You know, last time I looked in the dictionary, vacation ment no work, relaxation, and doing whatever the hell you wanted. And that's what my summer vacation was going to be! Before my mother landed me a job at her work...yeah... imagine my joy... so, updates will come as the will, while I try to convince my mom that a summer job is pointless and will make our lives miserable... my grand scheme...Moving on!

BinkaWV - Glad you think so.

mechanical-kitten - Yeah, he will. But he won't find out for a while. Nami's not that mean... or is she?...

ChainofDreams - YESSS! A virtual sugar rush is yours! Please use it responsibly... was it that obvious? Or are you just smart?... either way, good job figuring it out!

Mirathin - Actually, I havn't gotten a flame yet, which surprises me, considering we're into the 14th chapter and all... hmmm... oh well! I'm not complaining!

xX-Avast!-Xx - Fights are awesome, yes, but I suck at writing them... don't worry, Aly won't die. Where would the story go without her? Zolo would be so depressed...evil smirk maybe I'll make Zolo die instead...dodges thrown objects just kidding, just kidding! geez people...

Alrighty then, 14th chapter up for the reading! Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Edit: Another dreaded Oni Giri mistake. I fixded it. And yes, that's the correct spelling of fixded.

Chapter 14

Fight with a Warlord

Aly's POV

I shifted my feet, trying to find a spot of solid ground amid the sand. I clutched Snow Chaser in my hands, focusing completely on the figure in front of me.

Hawk Eye Mihawk.

The greatest swordsman in the world was standing in front of me, regarding me with guarded interest as I flew in for my next attack. He was a figure from my past, one who had been there through it all. And then, suddenly, picked up and left. Right when I needed him the most.

I still haven't forgiven him for that.

"Are you still upset?" he asked, reading my mind.

"Upset? I'm furious! Why the hell did you leave?" I said, jumping back so I could hear his answer without the noise of swordplay.

"It was time to fulfill my duties."

"That's what you said when you left! You left Blake, Eva, me. You left everyone!" I spoke calmly, hiding the boiling rage inside me.

I ran at him with my one sword, not caring that if I struck to kill, he would return the favor.

"You know what Blake and Eva did the night you left?" I asked, aware that the crew was listening as well. "Do you?"

Mihawk gave me a glare.

"This is not the time." He said, trying to knock my blade out of my hand. But I clung to it grimly.

"Oh, but it is, because right now, you're listening." I said mercilessly. He deserved so much to hear this… "They cried their eyes out! That's what they did! And I was the only one to comfort them! You can imagine what my father did next!" I watched, knowing full well the weight the words carried. "You knew what would happen when you left, so why the hell did you leave?"

"To fulfill-"

I didn't give him a chance to respond this time, rushing in for an attack. My anger fueled every blow I landed. I could see him watching me, calculating even in the heat of battle. And it made me furious.

"Why are you rushing to your death?"

His question caught me off guard, giving him enough time to swing his sword around. I blocked it at the last second.

"Because I promised Mom. And you know that." My response was enough to make him pause. We both stood there in the sand, sword tips trailing. I was out of breath, but he looked like he was out for a picnic on a summer's day.

"You're still too young." Mihawk said, challenging me with only a glance.

"That's the point." I said, tightening my grip on my sword, expecting another attack. But instead, Mihawk flipped his weapon so he was holding it by the blade. Extending the hilt towards me, he simply stared.

"Let's be serious about this battle. You seem to have a lot of pent up energy." He said calmly. I grinned.

"Warm up's over, huh?" I said, crossing the space between us and accepting the sword.

"Warm up?!?! If that was a warm up then what the hell is a fight?"

I glanced at the crew, sparing a moment. Usopp was the one who had just spoken, big surprise there. Everyone else just stood there staring. I smirked. The battles between Mihawk and I always seemed to have the effect.

"An interesting crew you've collected." Mihawk commented, following my gaze.

"I didn't collect them. They collected me." I said, chuckling. "Besides, you couldn't have forgotten them already."

"I meet many out at sea. You can't expect me to remember them all." He said, directing his attention back at me.

I spun the swords in my hands, making them pass in front of me at lightning speed. Still not stopping the movement, I spun them at my sides, then behind my back. I threw the left one in the air while I tossed the right one behind my back. Catching them both effortlessly, I grinned like a maniac. This was more like it.

"I see all that training didn't go to waste."

"Not at all."

With one fluid moment, Mihawk had drawn his huge black sword and was moving towards me. I smirked. He really was being serious. We exchanged blows for a moment or two, feeling for weaknesses.

"So why did you leave?" I asked conversationally, leaning into my blades as I blocked his. "And I mean the real reason."

"For the same reasons you did." He said, knocking my swords away. I jumped back as he swung at me.

"I find it hard to believe you were running away." I blocked his attack with one hand and lashed out with my other.

The next moments were spent in silence, all of my concentration on not getting chopped into tiny little pieces. The sand flew beneath our feet as we danced to the song of steel against steel. We battled up and down the sandbar, giving as much as we got. Or in my case more.

It had been awhile since I had last been in a serious sword fight. I didn't count the little spats with Zolo and the giant wolf. They didn't include the skill this battle was. And in my rusty state, it was draining me quickly.

"You're getting tired." Mihawk said, jolting me out of my thoughts with a well placed blow. I jumped back, my arms tired from overuse and vibrations.

"I still think you can read minds." I said, backing toward the ship. I had noticed Zolo was standing right near the railing, sword hilts perfectly in view.

"Not telepathy. Just interpretation." With these words, he placed is sword on his shoulder.

My eyes widened as I recognized the stance.

"Oh shit." I muttered as he ran towards me.

Grabbing the black blade with both hands, he brought it crashing down on me. I barely had time to register the attack before I was skidding backwards in the sand. A good ship length away and I finally slowed enough to fall to my knees. Breathing hard, I dropped my swords and held my side. A burning pain was blossoming on my left, and when I pulled my hand away, it was stained with blood. I glared at Mihawk, where he stood gazing back evenly.

"First blood. Do you wish to continue?" He asked, emotionless in front of the crew.

I picked up my blades and stood. Taking a few experimental swings, I smirked. I had been through much worse. A shallow wound like this wasn't going to stop me from completing my fight.

"Do you remember yet?" I asked, slowly walking towards him. "The crew, I mean."

"Like I said, I meet many at sea. How am I to remember them all?" He questioned once again, standing his ground as I approached.

"Well, you didn't seem to have any trouble forgetting them when you stopped at my small little port hole on that hell-bound ship. Especially a certain person you fought…" I watched with a smirk as the light bulb went off.

"…You are with that crew…" He also smirked. "What a coincidence."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I thought." I chuckled. "But enough of that. Are we going to finish this fight of what?"

Not waiting for an answer, I ran forward, holding my swords like I was about to attack. Mihawk leveled the sword at me, holding it parallel to the ground. Which was exactly what I wanted.

Putting on an extra burst of speed, I closed the gap before he could move his sword. Leaping into the air, I landed on the black sword. Using it as a spring board, I tucked my blades at my sides and let my momentum carry me somersaulting through the air right in front of my crewmates. I skidded to a halt behind Mihawk, my back to him.

"I thought you didn't like that style." He said, turning with a satisfied smirk. Rising, I turned to face him, a sword in each hand, and one in my mouth.

"Yeah well," I said, speaking around Kitetsu III. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, there's a move I wanted to try."

"Then let's see it." He held his sword at ready.

I ran forward, crossing my arms in front of me.

"Oni Giri!" I yelled, uncrossing my arms with as much speed and strength as possible. "Demon Slash!"

Silence. I panted heavily, listening to the hidden gasps of my crew. Then I smirked.

"I win." I said, holding the swords in place near his neck and chest.

"Not quite." He responded. That's when I noticed the cold steel tickling the side of my neck. I grinned.

"Draw!" we pronounced at the same time, then both burst into laughter.

I stuck the swords in the sand, leaning on my knees for support as I laughed. He followed suit, strapping the sword on his back and continued to chuckle. Finally, our mirth began to taper off. I wiped tears from my eyes as I straightened up. Suddenly, I was swept up in a hug.

"I missed you." Mihawk said, holding me gently in his strong arms. I returned the gesture, then punched him lightly on the arm.

"You big softy." I said, secretly glad for the moment. He put me at an arms length and looked at my side.

"Will you be okay?" He asked. I grinned.

"It's better than it looks." I said, inspecting the shallow gash as I spoke. "It's just bleeding a lot."

"I meant with your crew."

"Oh thanks!" I turned to look at said people, finding them staring like I had lost my mind. "Other than getting mobbed and having to answer a night's worth of questions, I think I'll be fine."

"Fine." Mihawk said. "I await you at home." He placed a small kiss on top of my head. I hugged him tightly, then watched as he strode away.

"Hey!" I called, running after him. "Don't you want your sword back?"

I held out the sword he had given me, but he shook his head.

"Keep it, and while you're at it, keep practicing." Mihawk said, wading noiselessly through the shallows that made up the inside part of the circular sandbar.

"Until we meet again!" I called, waving as his boat sailed away.

"Aly!" I turned to see the crew running towards me. All seemed to be speechless except for a certain swordsman.

"What the hell was that?" Zolo asked, reclaiming his swords.

"What was what?" I asked innocently, trying to avoid a direct answer.

"First you steal my swords, then you and Mihawk are hugging." He shook his head, glaring at me. "Why didn't he kill you?"

"Umm…well… you see…" I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. "Mihawk… he's…"

"A Warlord of the Seas?"

"A great swordsman?"

"A cold blooded killer?"

"My freaking nemesis?"

I shook my head, hiding a grin at all these supplied responses, all of them infinitely easier than the truth I was about to speak.

"Hawk Eye Mihawk is my uncle."