Alrighty here we go! Right so from this point on the updates are going to slow down. Next week I am doing Saturday-Thursday, all full shifts and we have stocktake during that time so I am going to be beyond exhausted. I probably won't be able to get the next chapter out until this time next week.
And then, from the 15th-20th I am going away to a convention in another city (Wellington Armageddon expo and New Zealand Comic Con)so I am going to try and get a chapter out on the tuesday, but no promises. I won't be available to start writing again until the 21st, and then I'm aback to work that wednesday.
As a in-advance apology and 'thank you for your paitence' I have added not one but two bonus omake at the bottom! One is a modern verse with Fairy of the Friz's character Lami, and the other...well you have to read it to find out.
As always Enjoy
Leo wasn't sure what hit her harder, the fact that she recognised those piercing yellow eyes, or the fact that she had no idea who the man attached to them was. One didn't forget eyes like that...not when they lingered on the edge of her memories for as long as...well as long as she had had memories. Yellow eyes set into a blurred face occasionally surfaced in her dreams every couple of months. Strangely always not long after her grump's visits...always accompanied by the fuzzy images of strange yet familiar places...seagulls and painted smiles...she always wrote them off as weird 'gramps-related-stress' dreams. They weren't real, the eyes never belonged to an actual living person.
But they did, there was no mistaking those eyes, it wasn't just her shoddy eyesight or brain playing tricks on her...she squinted, maybe it was a trick of the light? He was still a fair distance away, while still within her range of goggle-aided sight. Because she couldn't possible know him...it was impossible! Until a week ago she had never left the dirt of Dawn Island. But she hadn't always lived on Dawn Island now had she? The Sabo voice in her head reminded her, she had only lived there for the past 14 years. The first two years was spent in the Marine Headquarters because her Grandfather couldn't bare to part with her, so worried that if he let her go she would crumble.
Even so! There is no way she would have ever encountered an infamous, probably wanted, swordsman at a Marine base, let alone its headquarters, let alone remember it! The furtherest back she could recall was that time when she got stuck up a tree when she was when Shanks first docked at their village when she was about five. She remembered it because Makino was watching them, Shanks had been trying to flirt with her and then Leo, who had been sitting on the bar threw up all over Shank's front. She hadn't intended on throwing up, although the aim was slightly on purpose (in her defence he was bugging Makino!)
The more she rolled the idea in her head the more she convinced herself that is was just her brain playing tricks on her. Yellow eyes, while not common, couldn't be so uncommon that only one man in the entire world could possibly have them. No, she was mistaken. She just thought she knew those eyes. Despite telling herself so, doubt lingered on the corner of her mind...what if she wasn't...She shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts away. No! she had no time for this! Besides, she looked over to where her brother and nakama were fishing Yosaku and Johnny out of the water, her crew didn't seem to be too concerned over the weird man. Not even Zoro was paying him too much mind, focusing on getting his old comrades out of the water. If Zoro wasn't worried then it might not even be the swordsman they thought he was!
The truth of the matter was that, for once, Leo was the only one who got a good look at him before his tiny one man boat was blocked by several sinking parts of Don Krieg's ship. Zoro had heard Zeff's remark, but when his own visual scan of the water revealed nothing he pushed it to the back of his mind. Unless he saw the man with his own two eyes then it wasn't his concern. Not yet anyway.
They had more immediate problems. Such as their missing ship and Navigator.
"What did you say?!" Ussop immediately jumped to interrogate the two half drowned pirate hunters when they were finally fished out of the water,
"Nami ran off with the Going Merry?!" Luffy cried out
"What exactly happened?!" Zoro demanded,
"Why did you let her take our ship?!" Leo quickly joined in, screw the weird eyed man, all her fluffy blankets were on that ship! Her heart froze, so was her bag!
"Everything happened so suddenly" Yosaku whimpered, "I don't even know where to begin"
"How about at the part where you lost our ship" Leo bit out out, "and how exactly two experienced pirate hunters were both overpowered by one person!"
Yosaku gulped as he jumped to retell the distressing chain of events, how Nami had been looking through the wanted posters and they struck up a conversation about it. Then Nami had told them that she had wanted to get changed on deck and asked them to turn around.
"And you fucking hell for it" Leo wanted to bash her head against a wall,
"She winked at us though..."Johnny weakly protested
"And that didn't clue you on?!" Leo knew she shouldn't have been surprised, Nami was a very beautiful woman and there were times when even she caved into the navigators charms...she didn't have the resistance to women like she did men! Growing up with brothers she had become rather immune to masculine charms (Ace had also tried his damn hardest to ruin men for her.). Men, while very attractive to look at, just didn't have the same'head over heels' factor...if she was being honest if Nami had been flirting with her she would have caved as well...
Still! It was their ship they lost! Apparently after turning around Nami had shoved them into the water, stating that she never actually ever said she was a part of their crew (technically true) and that she was also just co-operating with them (also true) She had enjoyed herself, and even went as far as to say,
"If we're meant to be together, we shall meet again!" After which she took off with the ship! Before anyone could do anything Don Krieg's ship was cut in half and now they were here half drowned and completely terrified of the intense look Leo was giving them.
Something about Nami's repeated words didn't seem right...something was off...like who leaves while saying 'if we're meant to be we'll find each other again?' Her gut tugged uncomfortably, there was more to this story, and you know what? She didn't care. Because that was their ship! With her blankets and her bag and that was their home fucking dammit! You don't just go around stealing people's homes!
"And that's how we lost the ship!" Johnny and Yosaku got to their knees, bowing their needs,
"Please forgive us!" Yosaku begged
"Damn! She took advantage of us!" Zoro growled as he punched a wall.
Oh gods she had! Hurt shot through her heart, cutting through the anger leaving her chest feeling hollowed out. She had used them...tears welled up in Leo's eyes as she tried to shove the hurt down, was any of it real?
"That ship was a gift from Kaya!" Ussop shook with anger,
It was...Nami knew how much that ship meant to him...how much it meant to Leo. She knew and she still took it! Leo's lip began to quiver as the thoughts continued to rush over her. Was everything just an act? When she opened her heart and soul to the navigator...was it all just to gain her trust just for a few pieces of treasure?
Leo wanted to be angry, she wanted to scream and punch something...but she couldn't muster the fire. Not beneath the weight in her chest...gritting her teeth she tried to only breathe through her nose, trying to keep an even flow of air,
"Leo?" Ussop was the first to notice, frowning in concern at the shaky noises his captain was making,
"Why?" Her voice cracked, "She's our friend..."
"She was never our friend" Zoro growled, "She was using us from the start!"
Leo wrapped her arms around her bound chest, bending over as she did so. Fire burned through her chest, oh god she couldn't breathe! She gasped for air, but the binding around her chest was cutting off her air supply.
Luffy was instantly by her side, pressing her face into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her, one hand resting on her head, lightly scrapping his nails along her scalp. His other hand stretched right around as it slid up the front of her shirt, unclasping the top hooks of her binder with practised ease. Not enough to completely remove it, just the first few, enough to allow the top of her chest to expand enough to make breathing a little easier. Closing her eyes she pressed her head further into her brother's rubbery chest, this had to be the third worst week of her life, she thought shaking. The heavy weight of panic was easing now that she could get in a breath of air, her brothers heart beat soothed her own frantic one.
"I think I can still see the Merry!" Ussop announced as he adjusted his scope, "It's still on the horizon!"
Luffy turned his head, before shuffling himself and his shaking little sister closer to the railing, refusing to let her go just yet. It would be a few more minutes before her storm of emotions settled. He squinted at where Ussop was pointing, and sure enough there she was!
"Where's your ship?" He turned back to address the pirate hunters, his sister was too upset to be making any orders so the job fell to him,
"We still have it, but..."Yosoku answered, Luffy cut him off before he could finish,
"Zoro, Usssop, leave right away! Fetch Nami using their ship." He ordered.
Leo tried to pull away from his embrace, what was he thinking? His arms remained around her. The same thing as her obviously. Something didn't feel right here,
"Why bother? Let it go" Zoro grunted, "There's no need to chase that woman"
"How can you say that she is our nakama!" Leo tore herself from her brothers embrace to turn and glare at the swordsman,
"She just stole our ship" Zoro pointed out, "Nakma don't do that!"
"She's not doing it because she wants to!" Leo tried to defend her, because there had to be a logical explanation. There had to be something that explained everything...it was simply a matter of having faith that they would work it out! Even to herself she sounded so doubtful. But she couldn't just give on her, couldn't believe that her friend would betray them like this...
"I refuse to sail without her as my navigator" Luffy stated firmly,
"There is something wrong with her. Which means we can't just abandon her!" Leo added on firmly as she rubbed her eyes dry.
Zoro tried to stare Luffy down, he knew he couldn't possibly win against Leo, not when her still watering eyes sparked frustration and other emotions in his chest. His only option was to try and bend his other captain's will to his own (after all, what one captain did the other followed). He knew he had lost the moment he stared into Luffy's eyes. He was not budging. Those were the eyes of a man that would die before he changed his mind...bastard. He glanced at his other captain, her eyes were still red and puffy, her lip still wobbled but her jaw was set and she had the fierce look of someone who refused to accept the situation at face value.
"Fine!" He snapped, "What a pain-in-the-ass-captain..." he brought his hand up to his head, trying to stave off the budding headache to come. He wasn't even sure which captain he meant!. "Come one Ussop, let's go!"
"Uh sure!" Ussop stuttered,
"I should go with them" Leo straightened her shoulders as she mentally pulled herself together,
"No you shouldn't" Luffy wrapped a hand around her wrist,
"You don't need me here to kick Don Krieg's ass" she offered him a weak smile, "Isn't this the point of there being two of us? So when we split up each group has a captain?" she tried to reason.
"You're not going" Luffy repeated himself
Leo puffed her cheeks out as she glared at him, it didn't last long. She wilted under his stare, unable to gather the energy to put up much more of a fight,
"Zoro and Ussop are more than enough to bring Nami back to us" it wasn't until he let go of her until Leo realized how much she was relaying on him to stand upright, she swayed for a moment before righting herself. He didn't say it aloud, but they both knew he was right. She was in no state to be leading anyone. Tears of frustration filled her eyes,
"I'm sick of being so useless" she spat, "I'm meant to be a captain dammit! And I can't even do that right"
"You're not useless" Luffy's eyes softened as his hand returned to her elbow, "It's just been an off month" he offered her a smile.
Leo nodded biting her lip. It was just an off month, she would find her feet. It was just taking a bit of adjusting is all,
"Ok. I'll stay. But only because without me you'd probably have your ass handed to you" she threw a grin onto the end of it, not really feeling it, but her brother was trying...she had to at least meet him half way.
"Zoro-Aniki, the ship is ready!" While the siblings had been having their moment, Johnny and Yosaku had prepared their boat for immediate departure.
"Luffy, what about you?" Zoro glanced at Leo before Luffy, making it clear he was including her as well in his question,
"I haven't fully repaid this restaurant yet, so I can't go" Luffy explained, then glanced down to where he was still holding Leo's shaking hand. Zoro followed his captain's gaze, before blinking in understanding. She needed Luffy right now more than they needed her,
"Do be careful. Things here are starting to get heated" Zoro directed at both captains,
"Yeah I know" Luffy nodded,
"I'll make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid" Leo tried to reassure Zoro with a smile.
The mystery man's coffin shaped one man ship finally drifted back into view, grabbing the attention of the struggling Don Krieg pirates, most of whom were clinging to their slowly sinking ship, desperately trying to not fall into the water,
"It's him Don Krieg!" a man half over the mast shouted trying to warn his captain, "It's him! The man who sunk our fleet!"
His shouting gained everyone's attention, all looking in the direction of the newcomer,
"That man is..." Worry shot through Leo when Zoro couldn't even finish his sentence. Removing her hand from her brothers grip she walked to the railing beside her first name, pulling her goggles down to see better,
"That man is..." he tried again
"Zoro, who is he?" Luffy asked as he watched as everyone began to freak out about this guy. Even Leo was acting weird!
"That man...he's the man I've been searching for, Hawk Eyes Mihawk." Zoro grit out, he could feel his heart beating in his throat. His chance was finally here, all those years of training and preparation had lead up to this! He was ready!
"Hawk Eyes Mihawk?" Luffy repeated to make sure he heard right.
Leo flinched back from the railing, she didn't know that name...why did hearing it feel like being punched in the chest?! Her hands quickly found her brothers again,
"The strongest swordsman in the world!" Zoro added on, staring intensely as he watched the man's tiny boat float closer and closer to the Baratie.
Zoro was planning on challenging him, Leo wasn't stupid. Something about that fact sent burning panic through her chest. No matter how hard she pushed it, she couldn't bring any memories forward, she couldn't even find a clue of a clue that could lead to her to some sort of logical explanation as to how she knew this man. (there was no denying now that this man, that Hawk Eye's Mihawk was indeed to owner of the yellow eyes that had occasionally haunted her dreams) And what she did know wasn't even proper knowledge! It was all feelings and reactions...but there is one thing she could safely conclude. He was on a completely different planet compared to Zoro.
"That's the guy who instantly sank Krieg's fleet of 50 ships? Which should've withstood the Grand Line?" Patty didn't sound too impressed, this was the one man they all feared?
"And he just destroyed another one of Krieg's ships!" Carne had the sense to sound absolutely terrified
"But he looks no different from any other man" Another cook piped up, "And he doesn't seem to be armed with anything special" Just a massive sword on his back sure, but nothing 'special'
"His weapon's on his back" Zeff pointed out, being the only one to notice it
"No way! You can't mean..." Carne flicked his gaze towards Zeff then back to Mihawk's approaching boat, "He destroyed that huge ship with that sword?!" The sword in question was taller than Mihawk himself...although he was sitting, so it was taller than he was seated at least.
"He's the great swordsman Hawk Eyes." Zeff informed them, arms crossed, "A swordsman, above all of other swordsmen."
The grin on Zoro's face brought nothing but the queezy feeling of anxiety to Leo's belly. His hands were steady as he gripped Wado, ready to unsheathe them. Weirdo hypnotists and psychotic cat pirates she could deal with, hell even the evil clown wasn't an issue (if she hadn't hit her head and if that lion bastard hadn't set fire to the pet food store Leo was sure she would have kicked as much ass as her brother) Fuck even Don Krieg and his excuse of a fearsome crew didn't seem that bad...but this one, yellow eyed man?
"Hey you bastard!" Some of Don Krieg's crew had managed to find a flat bit of deck which seemed to continue floating, "Why did you attack us?!" he demanded to know.
Mihawk barely glanced his way,
"To kill time" he stated simply, like it was a big a deal as saying he was going for a walk
"Bullshit!" the pirate cried out pulling out both his pistols firing at the seated man.
Mihawk had drawn his sword faster than anyone could even blink, pointing it towards the pirates. He didn't try and cut through the bullets, he just twisted his wrist, causing both bullets to bounce off the blade, bypassing him completely.
"What?!" The man stared confused, "I'm sure I was right on target!
"It deviated" Zoro informed him,
The pirate let out a yelp at the sudden appearance of the green haired man behind the hell did he get there? More importantly how did a man of his size move so silently?
"He redirected it with the tip of his sword" Zoro felt admiration swell in his chest, this man was turning out to be exactly like his reputation. Excellent. He had always worried the man would live up to the legend.
"That's ridiculous!" the pirate stuttered as Zoro pushed past him, "Hey! Who the hell are you?"
"Katana?" Another pirate noticed the swords at his hips, "three of 'em! Could it be?" they weren't so unlucky to encounter two demons in one day were they?
"I've never seen such graceful skill" Zoro ignored the pirates, they were irrelevant, unimportant to his task, he instead addressed the man of his dreams directly.
"A sword with power alone is not powerful" Mihawk didn't even turn his head address the kid before him, offering him only a side glance,
"So this ship was cut apart with that sword too?" Zoro pushed onwards,
"Of course."
"It's clear now. You're the strongest!" A maniacal grin of excitement spread across Zoro's face. Mihawk continued to listen, not even vaguely interested in the one sided conversation going on between them.
"I've been sailing the seas to face you." Zoro's hand left his sword to pull his bandanna off his arm, tying it around his head.
"What is your mission?" he didn't sound all that surprised, or interested. The green haired man wasn't the first and certainly wouldn't be the last to try and challenge him.
"To be the best" Zoro stated with a confident smirk,
"Heh, fool" Mihawk had to grin a little, it had been awhile though...since someone was stupid enough to challenge him so boldly. Maybe this little trip wouldn't be a terrible bore after all.
Zoro drew Wado, pointing it directly at Mihawk. This was it, everything he had been waiting for,
"You've got time to spare, don't you?Let's duel, shall we?" Mihawk had to admit, the cocky brat had guts...then again they all did.
"Zoro! The 'three swords' Roronoa Zoro!" One of the pirates gasped in recognition,
"What?!" Ok so they were that unlucky.
"A Pirate Hunter eh?" Don Krieg huffed from where he was standing.
"That guy?" Sanji knew he had recognised the moss haired bastard from somewhere, but had never imagined like this!
"Oi, Things are getting worse guys!" Ussop turned to his captains, "Going Merry is about to be gone from our sights! Hey! Guys!"
Luffy stood watching the scene silently, while Leo's head moved between watching Zoro face the dangerous swordsman who made her stomach do flips, and watching the Going Merry slowly grow smaller and blurrier. It was nearly completely out of her sight range. Which happened to make her stomach twist into knots. The end result was the vicious urge to vomit everywhere. Pushing it down wasn't easy, but she had to hold it together. She was a captain after all.
"Duel?" If he were less refined he would have snorted, what an arrogant little brat, thinking that any 'fight' between them would even qualify as a duel, "Such a pitiful weakling"
Still he was right about one thing, he did have time to spare...may as well humour the brat. Who know's it may kill a good five minutes. Standing he leapt from his boat landing on the floating deck where the boy stood,
"If you really were a fine swordsman, you should've been able to judge the difference in strengths without drawing your sword." He stared down at the other man, clearly unimpressed, "Challenging me...Are you that brave? Or simply reckless?"
If anyone was to ask Leo, it was the winning combination of bravery, recklessness and Zoro's own special brand of stubbornness.
Mihawk wasn't wrong, the differences in power between them...there was no way Zoro could possibly win...Leo froze at her own thoughts, horrified. Oh gods...look at what she had been reduced to! One man gave her a fright and suddenly she abandons all confidence?No. No she wasn't going to be that person, she wasn't about to give up just because something was impossible! Letting go of her brothers hand she stood a little taller, straightening her shoulders. Time to actually give her earlier speech meaning.
"This is for my own ambition!" Zoro declared, placing Wado in his mouth, "And for a promise to my fallen friend."
"The world's greatest swordsman Hawk Eyes Mihawk vs Pirate Hunter Zoro." Patty leaned close to the railing as he and the other cooks watched the fight unfold, "What kind of fight will it turn out to be?"
"No one can win against Aniki!" Yosaku declared with a passion,
"Aniki's the best!" Johnny agreed
Leo took a deep breath, Zoro wasn't going to win this one...but he sure as hell wasn't going to roll over and lose. Mihawk would be forced to acknowledge him as a fellow swordsman once Zoro was through with him!
Mihawk reached up to his cross necklace, pulling it off with a quick yank to the strings. Zoro frowned in confusion when he grasped the top if the cross, revealing the tiny blade hidden inside. Ok that was quite neat...
"Hey now, what's the meaning of this?" Zoro growled,
"I'm unlike those idiots who use their all to hunt rabbits" Did this brat honestly believe he was worthy enough for him to fight at full strength? "Though you're famous enough to be called a swordsman, this is the weakest of the four oceans, East Blue."
Ok screw reason and logic, Leo want to see Zoro thrash this bastard. Show him 'weakest ocean'
"Unfortunately, I'm carrying nothing smaller than this" he said mockingly holding up the blade, which was no longer than his thumb,
"Quick mocking me!" Zoro growled biting down on Wado's handle so hard tiny flecks of tooth crumbled away, "Just don't regret it when you die!" he shouted charging the other swordsman.
"You're but someone who's yet to experience the real world." Mihawk scoffed impassively, bored of this fight already
"ONI...GIRI!" Zoro charged with his most powerful attack. Which Mihawk blocked easily...he held his arm out, his one tiny finger length blade blocking all three of Zoro's. Didn't flinch, didn't break a sweat, just raised his arm,
"Zoro!" Luffy gasped,
"Dammit" Leo's earlier resolve was crumbling away,
"Aniki's demon technique was broken!" Yosaku stuttered out
"But that has always worked 100% of the time!" Johnny stared in shock,
"This man is on a completely differently level to the guys Zoro formally faces" Leo brought her fist to her mouth, gnawing on her knuckle, "If he's going to have any chance he's going to have to get his game up.
It didn't improve from there. No matter how hard, or how fast Zoro struck Mihawk would just move his arm to block it. Zoro was jumping around trying to get him from different angles, Mihawk would just lean back or to the side. When he grew bored of that he pushed back with a flick of his wrist sending Zoro crashing to the ground.
"This can't be happening, Akini!" the pirate hunters cried out, "Please fight seriously!"
But he was, and that was what was upsetting Leo so much. He was fighting seriously, he was putting his everything into his attacks. It was painful to watch, Mihawk just kept swatting him away like he was a pesky butterfly. There was just no way he could match up to Mihawk's power. Zoro himself was growing ever more desperate, he knew there would be a difference in power...but not like this, he could have never imagined anything like this! It was becoming painfully obvious he wasn't going to win this. But he wasn't about to stop, wasn't about to give up. He made a promise, and god dammit he was going to keep it if it killed him. And he certainly hadn't come all this way, gone through everything he did to lose at the end of a damn toy!
Kunai flashed through his mind, drawing his mind away from the battle for just a split second. That was all Mihawk needed. Zoro thrust forward too hard, sending his body flying forward, before he hand a chance to right himself Mihawk's hand came down on his neck, stunning him. More memories flashed through his mind, his promise to Kunai that one of them would become the strongest swordsman in the world. Her funeral. His training. The day her father passed her sword on to him. She was no longer able to fulfil her promise, so he had to keep it for the both of them!
He could barely stand, the world around him spun as his ears throbbed as blood rushed through them. He was suddenly very aware of the deck beneath their feet shifting with the waves, and he found he couldn't quite balance against them any more...but he wouldn't give up. He couldn't. He had promised! He charged again, stumbling as he went. Mihawk just side stepped him, letting gravity and his own weight work against him.
As he lay on his back he gasped for air around Wado, glaring up at Mihawk. Damn that bastard. Damn him!
"What's your mission?" He asked the green haired man again, "Why do you seek the ultimate power, you weakling?"
"Aniki's a weakling you say? You damn bastard!" Yosaku's hand went to his sword, ready to jump in to defend his brother-in-arms honour. Johnny joined him, "We'll teach you a lesson!" they both leaped off their ship, charging towards the swordsman
"Stop! Yosaku! Johnny!" Luffy's arms stretched forward grabbing the two men,
"What the fuck are you guys doing!" Leo shouted, glad for the opportunity to vent, "Are you trying to ruin this for Zoro!"
"Don't interfere!" Luffy grit out as he strained to hold the two men down.
"This isn't your fight" Leo snapped at them, "Zoro deserves the right to bare the outcome of this battle on his own shoulders!"
It didn't make her happy, and in all honesty she had wanted to run and join them...and as much as she wanted to run, as much as she wanted to take her crew and hide in a dark corner somewhere, she knew deep down she could never do that to any of her crew. As much as it pained her, they had to let Zoro fight this man on his own.
"I can't afford to lose!" Zoro answered Mihawk.
Taking in a deep breath he tuned everything out, focusing on only his heart beat and the man before him. All the noise, the movement, everything faded of white as he moved into stance,
"Tora..." This wasn't just about him any more. It wasn't just about his promise to Kunai...his captains words rang through his mind...Luffy was to be the Pirate King...and Leo...he assumed she would King by his side (or Queen at the very least) and for that they needed the absolute best on their crew. With ambitions as big as theirs they deserved the best. "Gari!"
Not even his 'Tiger Hunting' technique good enough. He left his chest wide open, allowing Mihawk to stab him right between the ribs, stopping just short of his heart. His arms dropped down as pain flooded his entire body. Blood was already beginning to drip down from the wound,
"Do you wish to have this go through your heart?" Mihawk asked him curious, "Why didn't you step back?" he could have dodged it, he could have very easily moved back, he saw it coming and yet he didn't move.
"I don't know" Zoro answered, staring straight ahead, blood had begun to fill his mouth leaking over, spilling down his jaw and throat, "I'm not sure myself. But if I were to take even one step back, I believe that all those important oaths, promises and many other deals 'til now, will all go to waster and I'll never be able to return before you, ever again"
"Yes, and that's called 'losing'" Mihawk informed Zoro, frowning when the man chuckled,he could feel the vibration through the blade still stuck in his chest.
"That's why I can't step back." Zoro replied
"Even if it means death?" Mihawk pressed on
"Death may be better!"
Mihawk stared into the man's eyes. He was serious, he would rather die than be defeated...such will power. It had been such a long time since he met someone like the man before him. He pulled the knife from the man's chest, stepping back as he sheathed it,
"Kid, announce your name!" he ordered Zoro.
His limbs felt like lead, his chest was burning and he could literally feel his life leaking from his wounds. But he stood with a straight back, twisting his arms and swords into one more stance. If he was die, then dammit he was going to go down fighting!
"Roronoa Zoro!" he announced to the world.
"I'll remember that" Mihawk reached over his shoulder, grabbing the hilt of the massive curved sword on his back. With a will like that, he owed him at least that, "It's been awhile since I've seen such strong will. As a reward,a gesture to a fellow swordsman, I will wield this 'Black Sword' the most powerful sword in the world, to end your life"
"I appreciate your offer" There it was, it didn't seem like much, but it was a step. He had gained the respect of the world's strongest swordsman...now he just needed to somehow defeat him. Johnny and Yosaku were shouting, begging him to stop, while Luffy gripped the railing of the Baratie tightly, making a groaning noise as he watched. Leo tried her best to keep her breathing even, but as she watched it was getting harder and harder to keep her breath from becoming short gasps.
"Three Swords Secret Technique!" Zoro began to spin the two swords in his hands in circles, gaining speed as they spun. Mihawk kept his eyes firmly on him as he charged, "Three thousand Realms!"
Both men released their attacks, ending up with the backs to each other. Seconds past. Then the swords in Zoro's hands shattered and his chest split open, spraying blood across the deck. He fell to one knee as he dropped the ruined katana. He'd lost. He calmly took Wado out of his mouth, sheathing her. Losing had never occurred to him...never even processed the thought that maybe he didn't have enough to match the strongest in the world.
He then turned to face Mihawk, spreading his arms out. At least he could choose how he left this world.
"What now?" Mihawk asked, confused when Zoro raised his head with a grin on his face
"A wound to the back is a swordsman's greatest shame." he stated simply.
"Well said" He was starting to like this rookie, none the less he brought his Black sword down, slicing through his chest deeply.
"Zooorrrooo!" Luffy and Leo cried out, Leo immediately threw off her over coat, diving into the water as the others continued to cry out in shock.
Zoro's body crumbled as darkness flooded his vision, crashing into the water. Everyone watching was stunned, frozen. This was the power of the Grand Line! That not even the famed Demon Zoro stood a chance!
Leo could barely gasp for air as her water soaked binder clung tightly to her chest. It didn't matter, she had to get to Zoro. The idiot would drown if she didn't! She quickly reached where he had fallen in, taking a raspy deep breath she dove under, looking for her moss haired first mate through the burning salt water.
Above the water Luffy was left to deal with Mihawk,
"Dammit, dammit dammit!" he roared as he stretched out he threw a stretched arm towards Mihawk, who side stepped the hit. Grabbing onto the boat Luffy then launched himself with a war cry...the swordsman barely side stepped again. Luffy hit the deck with such force his head was jammed through the wood, getting hopelessly stuck.
"Aniki!" Johnny and Yosaku cried out, diving into the water to help Leo.
"You're the young swordsman's comrades?" Mihawk assumed
"Too fucking right we are" Mihawk turned his head to where the new voice was coming from. Leo wheezed and gasped as she tried to pull herself and Zoro up onto the deck. One arm clung to the wood, while the other held her unconscious crew mate above the water.
"Thank you for watching over him" Mihawk thanked Leo, as Luffy was far too busy trying to get his head out of the wood.
Leo glared up with him with hard black eyes, only breaking her gaze when she felt something tug Zoro, with a snarl she spun, ready to claw at whatever was trying to get at him. She dropped her arm when she realized it was Johnny and Yosaku,
"Take him to the boat" she gasped. There was no way in hell she was going to make it back to the boat, not with her chest being squeezed so tightly. Fucking hell she needed to get out of this binder now. The glare she gave them stopped any arguments from the two.
"Rest assure, that man's still alive" Mihawk assured the co-captains,
"Zoro!" Luffy cried out as the man coughed up water and blood. Leo didn't have the air to manage a shout as her fingers desperately worked under her shirt, pulling apart hooks with slippery wet fingers. Yosaku and Johnny managed to reach their ship, where Ussop was waiting to pull Zoro up, just as Leo tore away the last hook, her binder slipping down her front as she gasped in full lung fulls of air.
"Zoro!" She weakly wheezed, "Medicine! Bandages!" she coughed harshly barely able to shout an order.
Ussop was way ahead of her, having found the pirate hunters medicine supply,
"Here I found some! Apply it quickly" he shoved the bowel at Johnny, as he quickly set to work.
"It's still too early for you to die" Mihawk spoke loudly so Zoro could hear if he was still concious, "My name is Juraquille Mihawk! Find your true self, true world, become stronger! No matter how long it will take, I will await you in my strongest form! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!"
"You had fucking better" Leo wheezed, drawing Mihawk's attention to the small captain, his eyes darting towards the soaking wet binder next to her, then back to her hard eyes...curious...her gaze felt familiar, "Next time you face my swordsman's you had better stand before him as an equal. If you dare fight him at even a fraction less than your strongest, then it'll be me kicking your ass"
Never again would she allow anyone belittle her nakama's dreams by being anything less than their best.
Mihawk didn't answer her, instead just watched as she pulled herself up, dragging herself over to her brother, helping him to his feet so both stood before the swordsman. Curious...then again it made sense for such a strong willed swordsman to have a strong willed captain...or captains it seemed in this case,
"And what's your mission then?" He asked the two of them,
"Pirate King" They chanted together, heh, he expected no less.
"That's a difficult path, harder than surpassing me" he grinned at them,
"Like I'd care, cause I'm gonna become the King anyway!" Luffy stated simply, sticking his tongue out at the man
"I'd like to see anyone try and fucking stop us" Leo's earlier rage was still bubbling at the surface, "I don't care how 'difficult' the path is, I'll just carve a new way!"
"He's alive!" Leo's shoulders sagged in relief at those words, dragging the siblings attention away from Mihawk, "He was just unconscious!"
"Aniki!" Yosaku cried, "Aniki say something!"
"Zoro!" Leo cried out, setting off another fit of coughs.
The man in question was in fact still alive. He also still had the strength to raise his sword in the air so his captains could see,
"Luffy. Leo. Can you hear me?" oh gods he sounded worse than her,
"Yeah!" Luffy shouted back,
"We can hear you" Leo wheezed
"Sorry for worrying you" Zoro gasped out between laboured breaths, "If I don't become the greatest swordsman in the world, you'd be in a dilemma now right?" Talking irritated his chest, forcing him to cough up another glob of blood,
"Aniki! Don't say anything!" Johnny begged
"I will...I will never...LOSE AGAIN!" he shouted through his tears, trying to keep himself from sobbing as he stared up at Wado, "Until I defeat him and become the greatest swordsman, I'll never be defeated any more! Any problems with that Pirate Kings?!"
Through his speech Luffy's grin grew wider as relief filled Leo's chest. If he was making such bold oaths, then he was going to be ok,
"None!" Luffy giggled, picking up on his sisters ease. If his easily anxious sister wasn't worried, then he didn't need to be either,
"You had better not fucking lose!" Leo furiously rubbed away the few emotional tears that ran from her eyes, "Because if you ever scare me like this again I'll fucking kill you myself!" she promised as she all but wept with relief. "Fucking bastard, giving me a heart attack" she muttered to herself.
"Good team" Mihawk commented, turning back towards his boat, he had had his fun, "I hope we meet again"
"I just hope I'm not there" Leo muttered, "I don't think my heart could take something like this all over again" she ran her hands through her hair, pulling it up and back for a moment, uncovering the small dark peanut shaped birthmark at the base of her skull, just below her hair line.
Ahhh, so that's why those intense black eyes seemed so familiar to him. She was Garp's little have a stronger heart that you realize, he thought to himself, you've conquered so many battles your not even aware of. Yes he was looking forward to seeing just what destiny had in store for this crew.
"Hey you!" Don Krieg landed on the deck with a thump, "Didn't you come for my head?East Blue's greatest, Don Krieg's head?" he demanded. Talk about egotistical,
"That was my initial intention" Mihawk didn't turn to address him, compared to the pirates before him, Don Krieg really didn't seem all that impressive any more, "But I've had more than enough fun. I'm headed back to sleep."
Krieg cracked his neck with a cocky grin on his face,
"It may have been enough fun for you, but I haven't had mine yet." Why was he intentionally stopping the man who had single handedly destroyed his entire fleet...with a sword?! "Die before you go!" Krieg shouted as her armour popped open, firing a volley of missiles and bullets at the swordsman.
Luffy wrapped his body around his sister as Mihawk drew his sword, what a fucking idiot! The bullets bounced off Mihawk's sword, blasting into the water creating another blast of water. In the chaos Mihawk took his leave, while Luffy stretched out his arms, grabbing onto the Baratie, pulling himself and Leo, who was currently clinging to his front like a koala, to safety.
"Ussop!" Luffy called out,
"Luffy?" Ussop peaked over the side of the boat, looking at his two captains,
"Get going!" Leo ordered,
"Look after Nami!" Luffy added on,
"We'll catch up with you later!" Leo finished.
"Gotcha!" Ussop almost wept with joy, they were getting away from this crazy place, "Me and Zoro will definitely get Nami back!" he waved at them, "You just make sure that cook one of us! And Leo! Make sure he doesn't get himself killed!" He then tossed Luffy's hat, which had fallen off during the confusion earlier, "Then we'll make a party of six and head to the Grand Line!"
"Yeah! Now go!" Luffy's arm stretched out to grab his hat, bringing it back to place it safely on his head.
"Men! With the interruption gone, the real fight has just begun!" Don Krieg announced, "Let's get that ship!"
"Oi Old man, if I can get rid of 'em can we call it even?" Luffy asked as he helped his sister climb over the railing, careful of her bruising chest.
"Do as you please" The old man replied.
"It will be our pleasure" Leo grinned widely.
Omake: Bonus
The Slobber Demon
Mihawk eyed the tiny bundle of slobber and hair in his hands. So this was tiny demon brat of Garp's everyone had been talking about. Sure he had seen the infant in passing a few times, he had simply never cared enough to pay any kind of attention to her. So how did he end up with a bundle full of child? Excellent question. He had found her. Garp must have been in a meeting, leaving his year and a half old granddaughter unsupervised. Rumour was that she still hadn't learned to stand or walk properly yet, despite being at the age where babies were just starting to get the hang of it. Probably had something to do with being born so early, which was also the reason behind her tiny size. Mihawk had overheard many speculations that it would be a miracle if she grew taller than 5 foot...then again, from what Mihawk had heard, this child seemed to be full of them.
which still didn't explain how he had found the child. While unable to walk, she seemed /very/proficient at sliding, and had learned that if she kicked her legs out she could drag her entire forward, which lead to another startling discovery. Crawling. Without her grandfathers full attention on her the little spit ball took her opportunity for freedom in both chubby hands. She had managed to crawl and shuffle all the way to the docks, and had been in danger of falling into the water when Mihawk unexpectedly scooped her up.
It wasn't a secret that Mihawk detested people, it was why he lived alone on an island very far away from any sort of human contact. But as a war lord he was required to report into hq every now and then. It was a good thing he had, otherwise Garp would have been down a family member. And if he detested people, he /despised/ children. They were messy and loud and he had no patience for them.
And yet, here he was, with an arm full of infant. Although she wasn't screaming, or squirming or kicking up a fuss. In fact she was quite happy to cuddle into his bare chest and stick his necklace into her mouth. He glared down at the tiny thing as he stalked through the hallways looking for her absent guardian. Hopefully he could unload this brat to her grandfather before anyone saw him,
"Mihawk!" an annoying bright voice called from behind him. no suck luck.
"Greetings" he sighed deeply,as the undercover Marine Officer walked up to him
"What's that you got there" damn the feathery bastard, "A new side kick?"
"Garps brat" Mihawk clarified, "Found her nearly falling into the harbour"
He then shoved the child into the taller man's arms, who nearly dropped the child. Distressed at the man handling Leo began to whimper, until the large blonde shushed her, gently bouncing her up and down, easing her back into her docile state from before.
Mihawk had hoped he would be done with her then, but the damn blond bastard followed him
"So you here for the war lord meeting?" The marine officer tried striking up a conversation while walking beside Mihawk, easily keeping up with him.
Mihawk just nodded or ignored the blondes questions focusing instead of finding his way to the meeting room,
"You know everyone's been panicking trying to find this little trouble maker" The marine officer commented
"Oh?" Mihawk didn't sound all that interested,
"Yeah. It's actually rather funny, even all the higher ups are worried. Leo just has a way of worming into people's hearts, don't you?" He had intended on rubbing his nose with the babies, but his two left feet curse kicked in.
It was only the swordsman's inhuman reflex's that saved the little girl for the second time that day. Instead of crying this time, she just let out a delighted laugh, clapping her hands together as the man struggled to get to his feet,
"You're a sadistic little bastard aren't you?" Mihawk commented
"Bastard!" Leo happily parroted.
Both men froze. She could talk? Of course she could talk! She was a year and a half old! she may have had a small and weak body, her will and intelligence seemed to make up for that.
"Fuck" slipped out of the blonds mouth
"Fuck!" Leo parroted clapping her hands
By the time she was handed off to Garp she had learned a varity of new words. 'bastard' 'fuck' 'stopit' and the classic 'shit'. By the end of it, Mihawk could see how one may get insnared by those bright intelligent eyes, or the sun dimming smile. But he wasn't, nope. he remained hard as stone,
"Bye bye hawkmi!" Leo happily waved over her grandfathers shoulder, causing his stone heart to melt like lava.
...He was taking this to his grave.
Bonus:Bonus: For Friz -This was going to be Doffy smut but I know you'd send like a snake or a huntsman spider to me in the mail if I did...
The first detention
Trafalgar Lami was absolutely fuming. There was no other way to describe what she was feeling, fury beyond anything any other human had ever felt! And it was all that stupid bitch, Monkey D Leo's fault! The stupid little ass monkey had taken offensive to a very valid comment and one thing lead to another and the next thing they knew they were in the principal's office, half of the gym in ruins, suspended for a week with after school detention's for a month!
And it had been all Monkey's fault! And then the stupid bitch had kicked her brother in the stomach when Law and the bitch's own brother came to pick them them. Ok sure she had been trying to punch Leo, and Leo was trying to get at her and both the older boys were physically restraining them, but none of that was her fault!
She maintained this argument all the way home, right up until the moment her uncle Corazon stumbled through the door of their small, but fairly middle class house. They weren't rich by anyone's standards, but Corazon did have a fair amount of money hidden away, from both his own family's inheritance as well from his previous, not entire legal 'dealings' with his brother. Now Corazon wasn't their real uncle, but he was pretty much like a father to the Trafalgar orphans. And he had this way of making you rethink yourself and think about your actions without even opening his mouth! To be fair he was mute...so that may have had something to do with it
"...and then we got dragged into the principal's office to wait for our brothers. Stupid bitch" she muttered after telling her tale,
Do you think perhaps the only reason she reacted so badly was because of what you said? He signed,
"Ok maybe it was a little judgemental but she didn't have to fucking punch me!" she shot back
Language Cora scolded, I think you are jumping to judge this girl too quickly
"Me?! She called me a fucking princess! Like my life is such a fairy tail!" she spat
Maybe compared to her life it is Cora suggested
With a scoff Lami pushed away from the table,
"Like fucking hell, I'm going to my room" She told him as she stomped out of the kitchen. Corazon sighed as he watched her go.
~1 week later~
The week of suspension flew by, and both she and Leo were very lucky that the first week had been dedicated to orientation and going over what course material was going to be covered and most classes had started on the basics. It was easy enough for Lami to catch on, they really hadn't missed that much. During classes that day she ignored the black haired demon as best she could, couldn't help but glance at her every now and then. She seemed to be struggling to understand what was going on if her deep frown was anything to go by. Good. She took dark satisfaction in that fact.
3 O'Clock came quickly. There were two other kids in detention with them, a red haired delinquent in the year above them by the name of Kidd. (he and Leo seemed to have met by the way they glared at each other) and another girl from their year, but in a different home room..Koala was her name. To be honest Lami didn't care, all she wanted to do was do her time then get home.
"Alright runts" their teacher, a bored looking man by the name of Kuro stood in front of the class, "You are here because you are all screw ups. You are here for the next two hours, you can do whatever you want, I don't care, just don't leave the room. I'll be in my office across the hall so I will know if yo do leave and there will be consequences" he adjusted his glasses and left them to it. He had more important shit to do than look after screw ups all afternoon.
"Two hours?" Leo groaned, dropping her head to the desk, "I can't be stuck here till 5!"
"Oh and the rest of us can!" Lami snapped at her, it was the first time that day, Cora would be impressed,
"Not all of us can live in the nice part of the city" Leo snarled back
"Oh and where you live must be soo bad" Lami mocked,
"Would you willingly walk through the Grey Terminal at night!" Lami blinked, her jaw falling open slightly. The Grey Terminal?!
Within the city there were many different regions, the richest and highest class area of Goa, to the East of the city. And not too far from there was, ironically, the slums, known uncreativly as Edge Town. At the very centre of Edge Town was the Grey Terminal, a small patch of blocks untouched by the Law.
A few years back there had been two warring gangs, the Dadan family and the Bluejam family. Small when compared to some of the large crime rings spread throughout the massive city, but within Edge Town and Goa their influence was strong. And the Grey Terminal served as a base for both families. Then a terrible fire broke out, after which the Bluejam family seemed to have been wiped off the face of the planet. There were of course still rouges and you had low life's who pledged no loyalty to anyone, but for the most part the Dadan family reigned strong.
And in Lami's opinion it would one of the most terrifying places she had ever set foot, even during the day. They abided by a completely different set of laws and rules. The strong survived and the weak were trampled,
"You're fucking lying" Lami finally bit out, it was obviously a ploy for attention,"Besides The Grey Terminal is like a 15 minute drive from the Grand Line" where their school was located,
Leo rose an eyebrow, before leaning over to pick up her battered green bag, it had belonged to Ace at one point. Her brother offered to buy her a new one, but she refused, she like this one. Pulling out the piece of paper that was her formal notice of suspension from the week previous she slapped it down in front of Lami, pointing at her address.
There it was in black and white. The Grey Terminal.
"And they let you into the school?!" Lami sounded horrified,
"Yes because it is somehow my fault for being born into the wrong family in the wrong area" Leo spat.
Lami went to reply, but Leo just snatched her piece of paper back shoving it into her back,
"I've got work I need to catch up on, so just piss off alright" she sounded so...tired...Lami couldn't help but feel...pity...
Fucking dammit, she was going to kill Corazon! Damn him for forcing her to think about her actions!