Chapter 52

The sun was shining in Makino's face but she kept her eyes closed. She thought she had closed the blinds last night. Something moved and blocked the sun from her face.

Soft lips brushed against hers and she answered with gentle pressure.

She opened her eyes and smiled at her lover.

'I will never be able to surprise you with breakfast, won't I?'

'I would rather have you back here...' Her voice trailed off. She looked at him. He wasn't wearing a shirt and she had plain view at his muscular abdomen.

He moved back into the bed next to her and pulled her on top of him. The last remnants of sleep had left her and she kissed him, shyly at first but it grew increasingly passionate as it always would.
Her hands roamed over his chest, grabbed his hair and pressed her body against his. He moaned quietly into their kiss, his voice deep and filled with the same desire as Makino was.

He pushed Makino on her back. He kneeled between her legs and got rid of his pants. He looked at her and what he saw made him want to take her right then.

Her dark eyes were searching for his yellow ones. She pulled him closer, begging for more than just his gaze. Mihawk smirked and pushed into her.


Makino was sitting downstairs while Mihawk worked their food in the kitchen. What had started out as simple company had gotten so complicated so quickly. Not that she was complaining, but they both knew this couldn't last. That knowledge didn't stop them from enjoying each other for as long as they could. She looked at his unclothed back. His muscles rippled when he worked the pan.

She wondered how much time they still had.

She closed her eyes, rather reliving their morning than thinking about him being gone. Looking up again and she found him piling food on a tray. Walking over Mihawk placed the tray on the table and left for the kitchen again. She rose and set the table while he returned with coffee for himself and green tea for her.

She liked their morning routine, including the time in the bedroom. She slightly blushed but kept smiling. She heard a chuckling next to her.

'Don't laugh at me.' Makino couldn't help but keep smiling. Her gaze dropped from his face to his chest again, none of which would get rid of her blush or Mihawk's smirk.

She just started eating. She could feel his gaze on her. They were sitting next to each other, close. Just like the night when they had walked back to Fusha. He had stayed by her side. Even when she had withdrawn to her room to let her tears out, he had followed her. Sitting right outside of her room, wine and book with him; he had kept watch over her bad dreams.

She had woken up the next morning from the noise in the kitchen and had found him preparing food. This had started this part of their breakfast routine.

Since Mihawk was spending his nights outside of her bedroom door, it had been his habit to sleep after breakfast. So she would clean the table while he retired to his favorite corner in the dining area. Back then Makino had wondered why he didn't just go upstairs to sleep in his room. But later that day she had understood. When the lunch service was over and she had time to rest, she had sat down next to him, reading.

It had helped her ever since. Whenever she felt lonely she just knew he was either sitting in his corner or outside of her bedroom door.

Until one night she changed the latter.

The storm outside was noisy and the building was groaning. She wasn't afraid of storms. But whenever a storm had hit and Luffy had fallen asleep downstairs, she would be up and prepare some food for him. It would always calm him down as well as make him sleepy again.

She missed that she wasn't needed. That there was no one that was missing her.

The thought had shaken her with tears. Gathering some kind of composure she had gotten up, walked to the door and pulled Mihawk inside.

This night had been their first, a result of loneliness and desire.

Makino had stopped her fork midway to her mouth. Would things go back to how they were this night once he would leave? She knew it wouldn't make it any better if she started to think about this again, but she couldn't help these thoughts from surfacing over and over again.

It had happened often enough that Mihawk could read them from her face.

'You have to stop doing this to yourself.' She looked at him. It stung to see her sad.

Mihawk knew he would have to leave very soon, it would not get any easier with each passing day. Yet moments like those urged him to stay. So he did what he was best in; he distracted her.

They both were the kind of people to close their eyes when they kissed. This once it would be to their disadvantage.

The clicking of the camera made them jump. Mihawk was up, Kogatana in his hand. They were faced with a whole brigade of marines standing in the doorway and in front of the pub.

One man walked to the front. 'Stand down, Shichibukai. We have business with that woman.'

'And who do you think you are to dare order me around?' His eyes were cold and fixated on him. The man, who would never get a chance to brag about his rank, flinched before he barked out his last words.

'I don't have to explain myself to some pirate!'

Wasted last words. Mihawk cut him down, spun around and fled with Makino upstairs. He would have to get a few very important things that under no circumstances should end up in the hands of marines. This included his sword Yoru as well as Shanks' vivre card, his den-den mushi and the few eternal poses he possessed. He stored all of this, except for Yoru of course, in a bag. Makino helped him and got most of his clothes as well. She would have liked to pack some of her belongings as well, but Mihawk had pulled her back when she had taken for the door.

'We are leaving through the other exit!' Mihawk stepped out first, Makino followed behind. It was only one storey so he dropped down with his bag. He gestured Makino to follow and caught her when she jumped. He could hear the ruckus upstairs, they would soon spot them. He made for the port, Makino running beside him.

'We will hide at sea. I will take you back once the situation has calmed down.' They reached his ship after cutting down a few more marines. Yoru made quick work of them. His ship was not big since he usually sailed alone, but it would suffice for the time being.

He set sail while Makino dropped to the floor, not knowing when she would return and even if, what she would return to.