Hello everyone,
today we're going to meet a familiar face.
Thanks for your patience, your comments and your favors.
BlueBoltKatana: I'm glad I could touch you with the last chapter and of course I love your questions (they are really smart ones btw) I promise you, some will be answered, some maybe not (or not on first look ;-P) If the story is over and you still have questions left I would be more than happy to answer all of them ^^
baronnis: Yeah, I mean Nami is supposed to be one of the smartest people of the East Blue (And we already know that Robin is damn intelligent) so of course they try to find hints and traces. Thank you so much. I'll work hard on it^^
I wish you a great day
Sharry
Chapter 23 – Weakness
-Zoro-
"Oh my, you look horrible. Another bad night?"
"Just shut up, will ya?"
"Good Lord! Someone is in a bad mood today."
Zoro looked up from his breakfast at the other present person, trying to kill him with his eyes.
"You know exactly that Kanan was chasing me until the early morning like a maniac. What did you give her? She was totally crazy!"
The Shichibukai leaned against the counter and was drinking his daily coffee, reading the front page of the newspaper.
"I really do not understand why you are so upset. I might have mentioned one thing or another but of course I would never instruct her to fight against you." Hawk Eyes sounded a little bit too innocent, too naïve, flipping pages. "But the last night only confirmed my assumption that your progress is a lot higher during a real fight than by simply repeating exercises."
Somehow this conclusion worried Zoro more than he wanted it to.
"What do you mean by that?"
The older one looked at him with raised eyebrows, before returning to his news.
"I will edit your schedule of course. From now on you will continue to fight with Kanan."
"What? You can't be serious!"
He stood up, filled with rage.
"She's your housekeeper and now you want her to train me? Our deal was that I was trained by the world's greatest swordsman, not by his former nanny."
The Shichibukai did not even answer, his head hidden behind the newspaper. Slowly Zoro made his way over, his temper barely in control. Furious he ripped the newspaper out of the other one's hand.
"Are you even listening?!"
Mihawk stared him down dangerously, like he was thinking about how to snap Zoro's neck, but Zoro was not scared by those eyes. After all, the other one looked at him like that every other minute.
"And once again I am afraid that you are the one not listening." The black-haired one answered dismissive, making a step towards him and taking his newspaper back. "Because if you were listening you would have understood what I just told you. I have only few days to make you good enough to survive the life of a pirate while being a woman. The fight against Kanan has been much more helpful than any other training session so far. So please why are you making such a fuss?"
Zoro tried to understand what the other one was telling him. Buried under lecture and complain laid a small compliment of him becoming better, accompanied by a sad try to educate him. He really did not understand why Mihawk thought he was responsible for him. They stared at each other.
"So why can't it be you? I would prefer to train by myself instead of fighting some housekeeper with a sword!"
"You should not underestimate Kanan. She might look like an aged nanny but keep in mind that she is member of a traditional warrior family."
Surprised he made a step backwards.
"Seriously? She's a warrior?"
"Have you not noticed during your fight? Certainly she is not gifted with the same talent as we are, but at least for the meantime she is superior to Lady Loreen."
Slowly he was getting scared. This had been a compliment for sure. The other one was way too nice to him, something was off. But the Shichibukai simply continued and did not seem to notice Zoro's suspicion.
"I assume Kanan is one the same level as the former bounty hunter Killer. This means that only if you can overcome her, you are able to follow your way as Loreen and not as Zoro. I expect you to defeat her before you have to leave. And why are you looking at me like that now?"
So according to Hawk Eyes he had to beat Kanan to be good enough for his crew. That was something he could work with, but…
"Who the hell is Killer?"
Now it was the other one who looked surprised.
"You want to tell me that you do not remember your fight with Daz Bones?"
Daz Bones… Daz Bones…
"Oh, that Mr. 1 guy, yes I remember he was member of the Baroque Works, right? Didn't know he was bounty hunter though. But how do you know about that guy? Wait a sec! You're telling me Kanan could beat that freaking steal-man? You can't be serious!"
This arrogant muscle-head had almost killed him at Alabasta, they had been almost on a par and now the Shichibukai was telling him, that the motherly Kanan was just as strong?
Well on the other hand he thought about their fight during the last night, remembering how the housekeeper had chased him almost drowned in madness.
"I am serious. Of course she has never eaten a devil fruit and is not capable of using Haki, although I assume she could if she really wanted to learn it, but you should not underestimate her. Well, as far as I recall, it took all your strength to defeat Bones and you were seriously injured. Putting that into the consideration that you should have improved since then…"
"How the hell do you know all that stuff? Nothing was published…"
"I study my disciples before I train them. But let me continue, if you are able to defeat Kanan without being injured yourself I can let you leave with a quiet conscience."
Zoro fell silent.
He recalled that fight of the past, remembered the following ones, in front of all Bartholomew Kuma. A lot of things had happened since Alabasta and he had learned a lot, seen a lot, and now he was back at the beginning.
Even if he was strong enough to beat Mr. 1 in this body, he was still far away from where he should be. He thought about his fight against Enel, that CP-9-guy Kaku, Ryuma who gave him his sword. In all those fights he would have lost, probably not even endured the Ursus Shock, let alone what followed afterwards. And Hawk Eyes was actually serious that in this condition he could be of any use to his crew?
No, Zoro slowly understood. All of this was not about him becoming as strong as before, Mihawk already knew that was impossible, at least in this short amount of time. The older one only wanted to make him as good as possible so he could survive the Grand Line, so he was not completely helpless. Pathetic!
"Fine!" He murmured. "I get it. But why do I have to fight Kanan and not you? I think you don't need her to predict my level. Don't get me wrong, I like Kanan and I trust you that she's not bad. But we both know that not bad isn't good enough for me. You want to help me to become a better swordsman but still you let me fight your nanny? Why do you want to stop training me?"
He had thought that he was able to predict the other one's behavior by now, that he knew him by now. If Zoro was honest, he had become accustomed to the annoying, obliging, patronizing ways of the Shichibukai, had become accustomed to the Shichibukai as his cohabitant, his conversational partner and maybe even as some kind of unwanted friend. Right now he had just admitted how important the older one was for him as a teacher. Hawk Eyes was strict, unforgiving and expected a lot, but he was honest, fair and most importantly very competent – which had to be expected of the world's greatest swordsman.
It hurt him a little that the other one tried to get rid of their training sessions by pulling in the former nanny. Actually Zoro spent more time with her than with the grouchy lord of the household, training dances, fitting clothes, working in the kitchen.
The only time he had alone with the older man was the late evenings and the training sessions, and even though he would never admit it, it hurt that the other one did not seem to cherish those moments.
To his surprise the other one laughed softly and put the newspaper aside.
Zoro could tell that the other one had noticed his thoughts, but Hawk Eyes did not say anything, only folded his arms and leaned back against the counter.
For a moment he only noted those yellow-golden eyes, looking at him annoyingly fatherly and just now he realized that with his words he had actually accepted the other one as his teacher, his master, his guardian.
Dammit! He hated his helplessness and was pretty sure it was all due to his stupid female hormones.
"Roronoa." Mihawk started talking again. "For another time, you seem to misunderstand me. Of course I will continue to train you. Kanan would not be able to correct any mistakes from you. She will merely act as your enemy, because she is about as good as you are for the moment. But I will be there during each fight, watching and valuing."
Zoro nodded, although he was still feeling that the other one was keeping something from him. But he would not ask, sometimes it was smarter not to ask, especially when the other one was looking like this. Not dangerous actually, but somewhat undefined, somewhat almost insecure.
Zoro did not like that man to look that way, so he turned around and started to clean his dishes.
They were quiet, only the water bothering the silence, to his surprise the other one took his fork out of his wet fingers and started drying it.
"Besides." The older one mumbled, not really talking to Zoro but to himself. "It will be safer for you."
"What do you mean?" He asked serious but calm.
For a moment Mihawk's eyes widened, like he had just realized that he said it out loud, then he simply sighed and shook his head.
"Oh come on!" Zoro gnarled, knowing that the other one tried to dismissive the topic.
The Shichibukai gnarled back, like a wild animal, before sighing again, observing the plate in his long fingers.
"A fight against me would kill you."
It was not a threat; it was the simple, plain truth. Nothing really shocking in Zoro's eyes. Of course he knew that the other one was so much stronger than he was, even if he were in his own body right now. After all Hawk Eyes was the greatest swordsman in the world and Zoro had not even been able to take his stand against Homura, the current number three. If the older one wanted to, he could kill Zoro within this very second, but that was nothing new.
"If you're fishing for compliments right now, about how strong and great you are, forget it! No matter how deep I've fallen, I will not apple-polish you. We both know that I'm still, and I point out still, no match for you, but you didn't expect me to be and usually a master's job is not to kill his disciple."
"What did you just call me?"
"What?"
"Say it again: I'm your…?"
"Could you please stay focused, idiot?! You're talking about killing me right now! So tell me your damn problem!"
"I will, I will, if you call me your master for another time."
Oh, how he hated that evil grin back on the older one's face. He bit his lips and placed his hands on his hips.
"Fuck of, asshole! Just tell me why you don't wanna fight with me."
"Oh Roronoa, please watch your language." Suddenly the other one was serious again.
"I am not in need for false compliments to pride my ego. I know exactly how good I am and how much lower the other ones are."
"So?" Zoro grumbled annoyed. "That wasn't much of an answer just another mentioning about how great you are."
Mihawk looked at him cold.
"Roronoa, you think you can predict my strength because you fought me once. You think you can predict my actions because you got to know me and because you experienced a true fright with Nataku. But let me explain to you that the difference between Nataku and me is many times higher than the difference between you and him. Only because he is one of the best swordsmen, it does not mean he is on my level. Even Nataku and Jirou together would not be able to defeat me."
Zoro stopped breathing for a moment.
It was like he was just realizing again who the other one was, who he talked with, who he fought with, who offered him a place to stay. This man in front of him was Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk, greatest swordsman in the world and one of the seven Shichibukais.
Yes, he was aware that the other one was probably one of the strongest and most dangerous persons in the world, but he did think that he could at least compare his strength to Homura's. But now Dracule told him that the difference between them was so big that it was almost immeasurable?
"I am not telling you this just to show you - how did you put it? – How great I am. I tell you so that you realize that there is no one who could stop me if I would lose my control. Control, a very important factor in a fight."
Zoro nodded slowly. He had already experienced how unwanted emotions could cloud his mind. Feelings were a strategist's enemies. But Hawk Eyes was unchallenged master of tactic, famous for his clear head and his mature actions. So why should he out of all lose his temper during training?
But then he remembered. The moment, when Mihawk had knocked down the couch, when he ran away late at night, when he stroke down those three trees. Their fight after the assembly. During those seconds he had lost his control for not less than a heartbeat, and the one at fault had always been…
"Me." He whispered. "You lose your temper because of me."
He was not joking, not making fun of the other one. He realized for the first time that this was actually the truth.
The older one sighed. "A fight against you, even without a sword, even unarmed, would certainly end deadly for you. And while I could always interfere if you or Kanan would do something critical, nobody could stop me."
He was not even responding to Zoro's words, not even trying to threaten him.
But his words moved Zoro deeper than he had expected.
"Even a master in using Haki would probably take too long to safe you." It seemed like he was thinking about a certain person, but Zoro did not know who.
Suddenly the kitchen door burst open and just said housekeeper rushed in.
"Oh there you are, sweetie." She greeted him like the lovely mother he knew. Nothing like the wild savage of the last night.
"What's wrong, Kanan?" He asked a little bit ruder than he wanted to, but after all she just interrupted an interesting and somewhat private conversation.
But she did not notice, beaming like the sun.
"I just wanted to fetch you for the next fitting. My sister is about to arrive with your mask and I want to make sure it all matches perfectly. So come on, no time to waste."
He sighed and turned towards the Shichibukai, who was simply grinning back. "No worries, afterwards we will still have enough time left to train."
"Well, only if we put in some dancing as well." Kanan added with a cold glance at her boss.
Then she grabbed Zoro's hand and turned towards the door.
"Oh by the way, Sire." She said and turned around again. "I put your suit in your dressing room. Please try it on and call me."
-Mihawk-
He waited for the door to fell close before he breathed a sigh of relieve and sat down.
Tired he ruffled through his hair. Those conversations exhausted him.
It was like the young pirate was able to break down his walls without even noticing it. Every single conversation was dangerous for him, was unfamiliar and intense.
There were few people, who were able to speak at eyelevel with him and those who were not afraid of him were usually stupid and would regret it later, even if too late.
Roronoa on the other hand had earned his respect, his honesty and his loyalty, not matter if Mihawk liked it or not. But it was strange for him, to discuss with such a person. A person as wise as an old man but as impulsive as a young child. Although he did not want to, he told this child things he would never tell anybody. It was like it was impossible for him to hide something from the other one.
How was Roronoa able to do this?
What should he do with this boy in a girl's body?
What could he do?
He had to protect the other one, as long as he could. Protect him from Nataku, from Eizen, from all those people from the ball. But he also had to protect Roronoa of his own childish thoughts, and from himself, Mihawk, as well.
Unfortunately this task seemed more difficult than he would have expected. Especially because his little tomboy was not really found of receiving help or protection and Mihawk questioned himself often why he was doing something this selfless and in some way something this stupid.
After all, Roronoa wanted to defeat him one day. But he was far away from that moment, he had a long way to go and until then Mihawk would guard him.
But someday his tomboy would return to his crew. Leave him.
And the real question was not whether he was able to protect Roronoa after he left, but who would protect him from his own thoughts.
Slowly he buried his face in his hands.
What had happened to him?
How could one single being change him so much?
What had he taken into this house?
He stood up with a deep sigh and left the room.
-Zoro-
For another time he stood half naked in a room.
For another time he had to see his reflection in a tall mirror. This small, fragile, helpless body of a delicate, naïve girl. Despite the past time, no matter how used he had gotten to this body, he would never get used to this reflection with those huge, sad, bulging eyes.
The conversation with the Shichibukai was already forgotten after facing this new challenge, not that he really cared. All those useless talk was nothing more than an annoyance in his eyes, not helping him at all. He was here to become better not to find out why it was him out of all living being, who was able to hit the weak spot in Mihawk's poor, little, hurt soul. If it was such a big problem for the older one he should meet some headshrinker, Zoro did not care as long as he would still train him.
"So, my little one, look at it!" Kanan rushed in from another chamber, in her hand she held his long, flowing demise.
"So?" She asked him excited. "What do you think?"
Well, what should he think? It was a damn dress, for heaven's sake. Even if he ignored that fact, it did not matter for him, it looked like some long gown, but it could have been an apron or a potato sack as well as an evening dress. He could not really tell a difference.
"Oh, of course you have to try it on, before judging." He did not comment to that part.
"Aren't your daughters coming today?" He asked instead, while the housekeeper fused him with the expensive gown.
She shook his head.
"Mousy is sick again, so Seira has to take care of her dress on her own."
"Again?" He asked further. "Is Mousy sick often?"
Kanan nodded without looking up. "Yes, her immune system is quite weak so she spends some days in bed every other week, nothing serious usually, but she has to be careful."
Slowly she looked up. "But do not worry, sweetie. I am more than enough to turn you into the most beautiful lady of the ball."
"You know that your daughter will be there as well? And what about your sister, will she help you?"
The former nanny laughed lightheartedly. "Oh no, please not. My sister only organized the mask. She is not really talented when it comes to things like this. Okay honey, take a look, what do you think?"
Kanan stepped back so he had free sight at the mirror.
In front of him a girl in a ball gown stood.
Well, yeah he knew that much.
Okay, if he tried to ignore that he was that girl, what would he think if he met her in the streets?
That she had spent her night not at bed at least, if she was running around in such a thing during the day. Or she would be some spoiled brat.
This thought was not getting him anywhere. What would the annoying cook think if he saw her?
Oh yes, he knew the answer. Mr. Dartbrow would fall head over heels and would promise her his never ending love.
The idea made him sick, given that he was that girl.
"So?" Kanan waited impatiently.
"It's pretty, I guess?" Pretty was a good word, right? It fit, right?
"Pretty? Child, look at you! You look like the personification of a goddess, although we have to adjust this part here a little bit."
Suddenly she placed both of her hands at his small boobs and pushed his décolleté into a better position.
"Kanan!" He exclaimed embarrassed and blushed deeply.
"Loreen, this ball is really important, the whole world will watch that night. Everyone will see you in this dress and you will dance with the most famous celebrities. We have to show them all you got."
He really did not want to go!
"Kanan, I don't give a f… I don't care about that ball, okay? I attend to avoid problems and to shu… calm down Mihawk's business partners, that's it. All I want it to survive that night and to return to training."
"I'm relieved to hear that." An unknown voice came from the door.
Right next to it leaned a tall, black-haired beauty. It was obvious that the lady with modern, short hair, dark eyes and full lips was a relative of Kanan, although she had not one pound too much on her hips and showed that willingly in her youthful clothes. The tight pants and the cropped top revealed only enough to make every man curious.
And just like Kanan it was impossible to guess her age, although she seemed to be much younger. She had folded her arms and grinned slightly.
"When I heard that little Hawk Eyes had a girl to go with him to that good-for-nothing-ball, I was already wondering what kind of princess that would be. But it seems you're not part of that bloated society."
Kanan's sister put her hands at her hips and made her way across the room, towards him, in one hand a little basket, in the other one a cigarette.
"Nice to meet ya, Loreen."
He noted two things. First of all she was not talking the way Kanan and Mihawk did, but more like him. The other thing was that she had called Mihawk Hawk Eye, a name mainly used by pirates.
This woman seemed dangerous and Zoro could not even tell why.
"Loreen, if I may introduce: my, somewhat badly educated, sister Shakuyak. Shakuyak, please behave and put that cigarette away. No smoking inside."
Rolling her eyes Shakuyak pressed her cigarette against her heel and grinned at him again.
"You can call me Shakky. If Kanan says you're part of the family, then you're part of the family."
He nodded slightly without replying. She was definitely stronger than Kanan was and that made him worry.
She was someone no one would like to have as an enemy.
The two women did not note his brooding, because they were already chatting loudly, while Shakky pulled a little package out of her basket.
With careful hands she unwrapped the small souvenir.
The mask she was holding reminded Zoro of the ones, the CP-9-agents had been wearing during their attack on Iceburg. But this one was not grotesque or deformed. It was plain and elegant, matching the dress he was wearing.
Even e could see that this gown would make him the star of the night, without even trying. But a little thing bothered him.
"How do you like it?" Kanan asked again.
But this time he knew what he wanted.
"A true masterpiece."
Kanan nodded self-satisfied.
"But I have to ask you for a favor. Is it possible to change some parts?"
The housekeeper's eyes widened.
"Certainly yes, but what would you like to change?"
He reached for the mask and showed a small line.
"This here. Can you erase it?"
Surprised the older one looked at him.
"Are you sure, my child? You know what…"
"I'm well aware of the meaning, please."
She nodded. "Sure, just give me a moment."
She took the mask and vanished in the little chamber to his left.
"Oh, so it is serious?" With a grin the remaining woman came towards him and started to switch some needles and stitches to show a better advantage of his décolleté. In Zoro's opinion she looked pretty skillful with her hands.
"No way!" He replied. "I just want to make sure that not every idiot thinks he can talk to me."
He let her do what she was doing, while she laughed lightly and unplugged and plugged stuff. He was certain that she was more dangerous with a needle than Kanan was with her shortsword.
"Oh, I feel you. Even ten admirals couldn't drag me there."
"Finally someone who understands. The other ladies of your family only tell me about the great honor and that stuff."
She grinned on. "Yes, I might be a little bit different. All I need is a cooled beer and a nice cigarette to enjoy the night."
"Totally agreed. Wouldn't mind some sake though."
It felt easy to talk to her, he felt at ease during their conversation. She seemed to have a similar background like he had and it seemed so natural to talk to her without paying attention to his words. Even Mihawk, who knew exactly who he was, never stopped criticizing his manners.
The black-haired lady nodded satisfied and made a step back to observe him in total, smiling even wider.
"I like it, Loreen."
She lit another cigarette, not explaining if she was talking about their conversation or the dress.
"After this adventure I would love you to visit me at the Sabaody Archipelago for a little nightcap."
Finally someone sane!
"You're living there?"
She nodded. "I own a small bar. But I'm not sure you should show up on you own."
"Why?" Confused he watched her enjoying her nicotine.
"Well I'm living at Groove 13, which is part of the anarchic part of that island. A pretty, little thing like you wandering on your own, within half a minute all slave traders would chase you."
"Don't worry; I'm not as weak as I look." He grinned bacl.
"Oh, I'm sure of that, sweetie. After all you're living with one of the most dangerous men in the world. But don't take my words lightly. The Sabaody Archipelago is checkpoint of all outlaws who want to reach the new world."
Zoro looked up. This woman could know some important things for his crew.
"Everybody, who wants to visit the fishman island in order to reach the new world, has to take a rest at the Sabaody Archipelago to get their ship coated. That's why there are so many criminals. Especially during the last day. Some badly mannered Rookies and other pirates give me headaches all day."
But she did not seem worried at all, while puffing her cigarette.
Kanan entered again.
"Shakuyak, please! Put that cigarette aside."
She went behind Zoro and helped him to put on mask and veil. Afterwards she handed him some fingerless gloves with a single loop for his middle finger.
"So, what do you think?" Kanan asked.
"Like a beautiful, delicate porcelain doll. Exactly what the nobles want to see." The other woman answered grinning evil.
Zoro took another look at his reflection.
Yes that strange woman was someone he should not underestimate, but maybe he was the same. Maybe the woman he embodied was also someone not to be underestimated. Maybe this unimpressive shell would give him some fun.
After all, he was a freaking wolf in sheep's clothing invited to a huge pasture with many fat sheep.