Hey everyone,

we'll continue with the next chapter but I need to tell you that University is really keeping me busy for the moment so I'm not sure I can keep uploading as often, but I'll try to do my best ;-)

baronnis: Thank you so much! Well as we know, Zoro isn't the dancing type (It would be much easier for Sanji I think [I actually think that Sanji wouldn't mind being a girl that much]) so this will mean a lot of trouble for him and Mihawk :-P

Anana16: I'm so happy to see you still following and commenting^^ Yeah I promise it will be fun (and a little bit of drama of course)

Ro: Oh, don't pity him too much, you have to spare some for later... I'm sorry, but the Strawhats won't crash the party, but I like your way of thinking, need to remember that and yes it will be great.

Thank you all for commenting, favoring and following.

Sharry

Chapter 18 – Break

-Zoro-

"Tension, tension. No, no, no! Not like this! If you're not serious we can stop it right here. Repeat!"

Sweat ran down his forehead, his legs were burning by labor and his arms were as heavy as lead weight.

"Oh come on. It's not that complicated. All I ask you to do is to keep the rhythm."

The bossy voice tried desperately to teach him how to count to four, while diligent hands clapped the steady rhythm of the music.

"Head straight, Loreen, straight. Stop rocking, you are no chicken."

A snotty laughter sounded above him.

"Oh, hold your breath, Sire. Your dancing ability is not even half as good as you believe. And where are your hands? Where is the fire? I want romance!"

"I'll show you romance!" Zorro hissed low enough for only the Shichibukai to hear him, who had a hard time suppressing his dark laughter again, holding his hand a little bit tighter.

"What did I just say? Your hands, Sire. Loreen, long legs, elegant and light-footed, not like a toddling duck."

"Have you ever tried to walk in those shoes?" He snarled at the older woman, while the Shishibukai's hand actually slid half an inch deeper.

"Stop whining, honey. We have only few days and so much work to do. I am shocked that a young lady like you does not even know the easiest dances."

The housekeeper continued her scolding, but Zoro's gaze was fixed at his feet, while he wondered for another time, what he had done to deserve this.

Well, it had been his own fault for worrying about someone else. For caring that Hawk Eyes could lose his title as a Shichibukai.

Why should he care if the other one was able to stick to his contract with the world government or not?

The only thing, he should worry about, was to return to his crew.

But on the other side he owed a lot to the older one, so much. But those dance lessons would pay off most of it. His feet were hurting already like hell because of those damn heels. Why would any woman want to wear that?

The only good thing about it was that he was not as tiny anymore next to the huge Shichibukai. But he still only stared at the other one's chest. He would, but his attention was caught by his own feet.

"I think, we should call it a day, Kanan." The Shichibukai advised in an unusual soft voice, while Zoro still tried to keep the rhythm, without stepping on the other one's feet.

A most desperate sigh drowned the music, before that got turned off. Immediately Zoro let go of the other one and stepped away. His legs were heavy and gave in so he slumped inelegant to the ground. He was almost surprised how much it hurt and he had to admit that he would probably earn some more bruises.

Kanan sighed for another time and Hawk Eyes looked at him snotty and a little bit pitying.

"Fine, after all I do have to talk with my daughter because of the dress." Her voice sounded more than excited, she was obviously happy over her new task.

"You want to tell me for which color my guest was chosen?"

Zoro looked exhausted at the other two, without being part of their conversation. Right now he missed the tiring and deathly training session with the Shichibukai.

Dismissive the housekeeper folded her arms.

"Sire, of course not. You know I cannot."

"But how shall I recognize my guest?" The Shichibukai seemed anything else but happy. "I need at least some little hint, if I want both of us to survive that night."

But the former nanny shook her head and turned for the door.

"And I shall risk to be beheaded by some world noble? Even more important, the surprise I would rob you of. No, no, no, no hint at all." Determined she opened the door. "A true gentleman will recognize his lady, even if veiled. Loreen, tomorrow morning will be your first fitting. It would be of favor if you would show few of those bruises. Rumors about domestic abuse misbecomes the house Dracule." She closed the door behind her back.

"Just tell me that damn color, Roronoa." The older one murmured tired, obviously in a sudden change of mood and now folding his arms quite displeased.

Zoro shrugged his shoulders.

"Do you actually think she would tell me anything? All I know is that I'm having big trouble walking with those heels, leave alone dancing."

He was way too tired to listen to the older one's grumbling. For hours they had been training, but not the way of the sword, he needed so desperately to learn, but stupid standard dances. One after another. But he had still about half of them to go and he was already forgetting most of the ones he had just learned.

He watched the black haired one ruffling through his own hair several times, sighing devastated, before taking off his west and sitting down cross-legged in front of him. For a moment those golden yellow eyes caught his view, before the older one started to take off his black polished dancing shoes.

Something had been off between them for the last few days, but Zoro could not quite grasp what it was and actually he lacked both energy and interest to brood over that too long and even less he wanted to talk with the other one about that stuff. Dancing had already taking enough off him for today.

While watching the other one's movements he tried to understand his situation but no matter how he looked at it there was no way for him to escape.

Kanan had already sent an official acceptance to the headquarters last night, after all three of them had been talking for hours.

Zoro was still unable to understand all those different rules and laws of this ball and he really wondered what he had done to deserve this.

"So Roronoa." The older one raised his voice. "Are you ready for another real training session or was a little bit of dancing already enough for you?"

An evil grin darkened the thin lips of the other one and immediately whatever had been wavering in between them disappeared and the older one returned to being the well-known bastard, Zoro had learned to appreciate.

His exhaustion faded at the same second and he was about to jump up, but the small little torture-tools at his feet brought him right back to the ground, face first.

His teacher cackled in a low evil way before getting up himself and lifting him up easily with one hand, still that wide smirk on his lips, like he had just come up with some dangerous idea.

Back on his feet Zoro nodded sharply and checked swiftly if his nose was still in one piece.

"Just give me a second to get rid of those shoes and then we can get started."

But Hawk Eyes folded his arms and shook his head.

"No, I am afraid Kanan is right."

Zoro flinched away. This was the most dangerous thing the other one could have said.

"You are indeed clumsy, even more with those shoes."

"Even more?"

"I believe it is for the best if you keep wearing them until you feel comfortable in them."

"You know this will never happen."

They shared a glance.

"I'm wearing those damn things for hours already, my feet hurt and I have no idea about how to fight with them. It's already tough enough to simply walk."

This had to be some kind of joke.

"Exactly Roronoa. Just like you said, every step of you is insecure and you are anything but a natural if it comes to dancing. I assume it would be the best to connect the unknown difficulty of wearing high heels with something familiar, training with the sword for example."
"Stop joking. This is ridiculous."
"Is this an excuse?"

So he kept his shoes on, swaying over to his new sword at the wall. The moment he touched it he could feel its power and force, could feel its longing for a fight, his craving for sweat and blood.

Carefully he turned for the Shichibukai, who was unarmed but doubtless the victor of an unchallenged fight.

He nodded for another time and moved into the basic position, searching stability for his balance point was shifted.

Hawk Eyes folded his arms again and simply watched him. The superior grin had left his face, leaving nothing but seriousness and rationality. This training would be at least as tough as always.

"Begin!"

Like in trance he followed the basic movements with his sword, consciously slow and paying attention to the new difficulty. For another time he had to get used to his body before continuing with more complicated exercises so he used the basics. Those he had learned in his earliest childhood and had practiced ever since. Those he had practiced partly wrong for years and had to relearn just few days ago under the hard view of the Shichibukai.

He could feel those cold eyes on him every second but as long as the other one was not saying anything or correcting his movements he continued, following the flow, feeling his inner calm grow.

His body moved naturally, each muscle knowing exactly what to do, more like a meditative exercise, giving his mind freedom to think about other problems.

More often than he would ever admit he thought about his crew, his friends, his family, while lowering his arms, stepping aside, bending his knee.

For another time he reminded himself of his own goal, to return to his friends, reminded himself that time was going by fast and he had still a lot to learn, that he had less than twenty days to meet his friends, to return being a pirate again.

But he had a long way to go until then. Not only because he had still no clue what he needed to learn before he could become himself again, no somehow he had been able to get invited to that good for nothing ball.

Which was actually the bigger issue here.

He was not that much worried about regaining his original body. At some point he would be able to do so and up to that day he needed to train simply as hard as he could to be of worth for his crew, to be able to protect them.

Not one second he actually doubted that they would take him back, even if he was a woman for the moment – but he tried to avoid imagining to cook's view – Everything would become a little bit more complicated but he would worry about that, when the day came.

No his real problem was this freaking ball.

Hawk Eye's voice stabbed the silence, correcting one unsecure lunge, but was not reaching his inner silence, while he was still thinking about that upcoming event.

There was still so much he did not understand.

Slowly he went over the last evening.

Mihawk had explained that it was something like a masked ball. Men wearing simple ones around their eyes. Black if already spoken for, red if not. Besides the dress-code for men was simple. Black tuxedo or navy uniform.

Of course it was not as simple for women, what he was for the meantime. At first unmarried women were given a fixed color for their gown, while married ones had to wear simple black dresses.

There were also strict rules about their masks. The color of the dress showed the social status of the woman, the mask on the other hand showed how bound she was. Some strange rule in his opinion. Either you are bound or not, there was nothing in between.

The Shichibukai's hands softly pushed his shoulders, ordering him for more tension, serious words reminding his body posture.

As far as he remembered a woman with completely concealed face and hair was supposed to be a virgin, a woman with nothing more than a mask around her eyes already engaged. Married women usually wore only a veil or a black mask like the men. Every relationship status in between was reflected by being more or less masked, so men could choose their woman without falling for her looks. Because, even though the world nobles stopped descending to find some fitting breeding material, other men of the better society still used this event to find some fitting wife.

"Concentrate, Roronoa!" Suddenly he was back, after his left leg gave in and he almost hit his right knee with his sword.

The older one looked down at him dismissive.

"Where are you with your mind? You behave unusually vacantly."

But Zoro was still caught in his thought.

"What were those three possibilities again?" He asked, thinking about the ball he did not want to attend.

The Shichibukai folded his arms.

"What are you talking about?"

He lowered his sword. Only thinking about that ball and probably getting… He was about to throw up. Why should someone else have so much power over him? Why should he bend to such rules? Just because someone was dancing with him?

"At the end of the dancing what can a man ask a woman?" His girly voice sounded so rough, but it was impossible to look up. Mihawk sighed.

"So this is where you are."

The black haired one seemed tired, while stepping towards him and taking his sword.

"One kiss, one night or one life." He sighed again. "We should take a rest for the moment."

Zoro shook his head.

"No, I have to become stronger. We're already wasting too much time with dancing and dressing up. I want to use each minute."

Shocked he watched the other one shaking his head.

"Your concentration is lacking."

"It won't any longer." Why was the other one trying so hard to keep him from training so often?

"Roronoa", he said calm, "We will take a break now to eat something, to sort or thoughts about that ball and afterwards we continue your training as long as you wish, alright?"

Why another break? Why was he interrupting their training so quickly?

"No, I don't know, why you…"

"Roronoa!"
He paused. By now he knew that this tone of the other one's voice meant pure danger. Kanan had told him last night that Mihawk had difficulties with people objecting his decisions and would easily fall for killing them if he felt annoyed. The main reason why he avoided political meetings. She had told him, that Mihawk was controlling his emotions in front of Zoro to not hurt him but he was already close to pushing his limits.

This meant if Zoro would go any further now the other one would either run away again to not put him in danger or he would attack him like at that first night. But maybe he would not be able to stop himself this time.

He was surprised, even shocked that Hawk Eyes out of all, cold strategist, calm Shichibukai, lost his control so easily if it came to him, a novice from the East Blue, a bold youngster, while neither raging nor suffering people were able to touch his heart.

It reminded him of his own relationship with Luffy.

He sighed.

The other one understood it as acceptance, turned around and walked towards the exit, picking up the sword's sheath. Suddenly he paused, staring at the sheath in his hand, than he turned around and offered him Josei.

"Take it", he said calm, "After all it will be yours one day if you do not want to embarrass me as your teacher."

With open mouth he stared at the other one.

Good! To be the world's number one swordsman! Since you wanna be the Pirate King's crew member, if you can't even accomplish something that small, then I would be very embarrassed as well!

Someone believing in him, someone really believing in him had happened only one time.

After a second he caught himself and took the sword, immediately he was greeted by waves of pure lust for fighting.

While following his teacher and putting the sword over his shoulder he realized that he was not only missing his friends, but his most loyal companions as well. He hoped his crew had kept them and not burned them or threw them away. He could kind of imagine the money-craving-witch to sell them.

He could not wait to be back with them, with all of them.

Entering the kitchen both swordsmen headed for the fridge first, but Kanan had been smarter. Two filled plates with small tags with their written names were already waiting for them, a bottle of wine in between them.

"Why did she put this one into the fridge?" The older one grunted and pulled the bottle out. "No matter how often I explain it, she never understands which temperature for which wine."

"Stop whining." Zoro murmured and took both plates before closing the door with his foot. "After all she cooks for us, washes our clothes and takes care of everything else."

He sat down at the small table while Mihawk leaned against the pantry, pulling the news paper closer to him.

"After all that is her job." The landlord mumbled and started reading.

"Hey!" Zoro barked bold between to bites.

"What?" The other one answered just as harsh.

"I thought we take a break to eat and talk about that ball, not about good old grandpa over there reading newspapers again."

Very slowly, like Zoro had just tried to steal his food, the older one lowered the papers in his hands and starred at him deadly.

"I am no grandpa." Then he returned to reading.

"Not really my problem here." He gnarled back. "But sure you're no grandpa; no woman would fall for you, let alone having your children and grandchildren."

For another time those yellow eyes showed up above the newspaper, but Zoro could not hide his grin, well aware that the other one glared at him like a beast at its prey.

"Well, according to those articles there actually is some woman deeply in love with me."

"Yeah sure, some poor, little…" He choked on his answer, as he saw his own female image on some black and white pictures in different situation printed at the newspaper. Even the black dress of the dinner with the major was shown with hints where to buy it. Another picture showed both swordsmen, walking down the market with several bags and boxes. The article under it discussed their relationship into every little detail.

"What the hell?" He whispered struck with horror.

Laughing softly the Shichibukai sat down across to him.

"Like I told you, public has noted you and after this ball you probably will be famous." He laughed again. "Of course only if you survive."

"Shut up, this ain't funny!" He jumped up.

"Oh it is, my little frog. It is. Simply watching your reaction is more than entertaining."

Suddenly he became serious again. "But to be honest I believe those articles are there for another reason. The headquarter pressures the press certainly to write about insignificant things rather than actual news. They try to draw the curtain over something that might worry the commons."

"Yeah might be." Zoro agreed and closed the newspaper, ignoring his pictures. "But there is something more important to talk about: The Ball!"

The serious face of the Shichibukai relaxed a little bit and he got up again, to place the empty plates at the sink. But he was not even trying to wash them.

"So Roronoa, what do you want me to explain again? Those rules are not that complicated."

Zoro rolled his eyes and went over to the sink to do the dishes. With another sigh he took a towel and forced it into the older one's hands.

"Explain what will happen once we arrive." He watched the rising bubbles.

Mihawk sighed but took the offered fork to dry it.

"Okay, so I will explain everything as it seems. This time try to listen closely and ask if you do not understand it."

"Stop acting like I'm stupid!"
"Well, you are slow on the uptake."
"I hate you."
"No, you do not. But returning to the topic: We will be picked up at different times so I have no chance to see you before. I will leave at the late afternoon to visit some conferences before the official ball." He sounded so bored. "Your carriage will arrive about two hours later, bringing you directly to the still unknown destination."

"Why does no one know where it is?" He asked, his hands covered in foam.

"It is just some useless old tradition to protect the attendances, like so many other ones." The older one answered unimpressed. "The ball will begin silently. After all women arrived they will be seated, before us men come in to choose one lady for the opening dance."
"And how do I know where I have to sit?"
The Shichibukai sighed. "Roronoa, focus please. It is only a long row of chairs, you simply need to remember who sits next to you. After all of you are seated, we men will line up in front of you."
"I don't like the way you emphasize that you're a man."

"Well I am and it is not my fault you are not. But because you are a woman for the moment you will wear that dress and you will behave like a lady, understood?"

Zoro sighed and dried his own hands. "Actually I understood it all so far, but what happens after the man asks a woman for a dance."

"This is quite simple, Roronoa. A man stands in front of a sitting woman and has the choice: He can either ask her or not, if he does not or if she rejects, he will go to the next women to his left. By the third time he has to ask and a woman has to accept latest at the third offer. After three rounds everyone will have a dancing partner, understood?"

It was confusing but after another second Zoro nodded.

"But what about this opening dance? Why does it matter who asks me to dance?"

Mihawk went back to the table and sat down, opening the newspaper. "It is of great importance. The first dancing partner of a lady receives a special advantage. Like I already told you yesterday you have to accept at least every third dancing invitation during this evening and you may never dance longer with the same man than for three dances, okay?"

He jumped upon the pantry and let his legs sway forth and back. "Yeah yeah, three is the magic number of the day."

"If you wish so." The older one was not even looking up but reading. "After the ball ends there will be some great feast, but of course you will not dance the whole time until then. At least I never did. Some tables and chairs with wine and appetizers are waiting for those who prefer talking over dancing, served by unofficial slaves."
"You already were on this navy ball?" He was more than surprised, while Mihawk seemed uninterested.

"Of course, as a representative of my family I have accompanied my mother several times when my father was traveling and later as a marine it was part of my duty to be there. But those days are long gone. After I resigned I was not invited anymore. Many of the better society would not appreciate a Shichibukai at their table." The older one still sounded bored, like he was talking about unimportant things, but Zoro started to wonder what kind of rank the other one had been holding in his past life.

"At the end of the ball you have to be cautious." Suddenly those hawk eyes were staring at him like he him some secret.

"After some fixed song the formal part of the ball will end and the dancing partner has the opportunity to ask the lady at his hand for one of three things: One kiss, one night or one life. If she rejects he has to ask some other woman. And here the first dancing partner has an advantage. After the last dancing partner was rejected, he has the special position to ask the lady before anybody else may."
Zoro met his view concentrated.

"But a woman can only dismiss two offers, she has to accept the third one, no matter what it is. So that means if she rejects her last dance partner as well as her first one she has to take whatever the next man offers and whoever the next man ist."
He gulped harshly. This was the dangerous part, but the Shichibukai continued talking.

"Obviously one kiss is not much more than a kiss. One night allows the man to do anything he wishes to do until the sun rises. He has complete control over the woman, may love her, may kill her, may play chess or force her to share her bed with him. And one life is nothing less than the promise of engagement. The wedding is supposed to be within a week after the ball, but unlike usual marriages the wives receive now personal rights and may be treated like slaves."

They stared at each other while he tried to understand what the other one had said.

Some idiot of the navy, or even worse some noble butthole could own him in the end, if he was not paying enough attention.

"So how do I know, which song is the final one?"
Mihawk shook his head. "You won't. At the official beginning only the men will be told some certain codeword, which will be used during one song. The following song will be the final one."

"Damn it, are you freaking serious? That's way too complicated." He sighed. "You have to tell me that codeword. I really don't want to be engaged with some idiot."

"Oh, so you are actually asking me to rescue you?"
Zoro stopped breathing for a moment.

Just now he was realizing what all of this meant. Up until now he was only thinking about getting through this evening. One or two dances with the Shichibukai before hiding at the bar. Hoping nobody would talk to him or if that the cold eyes of the swords master at his side were enough to scare that idiot away. But now he understood that the only chance to survive he had was probably to…

"Oh, no fear, little frog." Hawk Eyes grinned. "As far as I remember only the pretty ladies have to worry."

"Asshole!"

The next moment he threw one of his high heels after the other one, who caught in easily and laughed dark.

"Oh my, Roronoa. You know that you have nothing to worry about. I will be with you the whole night." Mihawk said softly trying to ease the tension. He stood up and stepped towards him, putting the shoe back on. "Come on, the next training session is waiting."

Nodding Zoro was already following Hawk Eyes, ignoring the unwanted fatherly warmth given by the other one.

"Besides." The other one continued while they walked down the corridor. "As you probably remember from your time of being a man, we like the curvy girls not a chicken-breast like you."
A loud crack shivered through the depths of the mansion, followed by some raging voice of a young girl and a snotty laughter of an old man.

Zorro was not even sure, why those comments annoyed him. A small chest was better for fighting. But still the woman within him was raging with fire and also a little bit hurt.

What was wrong with him?