DISCLAIMER

The world and the characters of ONE PIECE belong to Eichiiro Oda. Only OC's belong to me.
The story takes place before the Time Skip, from the Arabasta Saga, that is, before Marineford's war.

Warning: This chapter contains a scene of abuse that can get to be triggering.

Chapter 9: Walk carefully

By the moment she ended her song, nothing else could be heard but the company of the rain intensifying and claiming its prominence. She raised her head silently as she noticed the peculiar sound of hail. The swordsman opened his eyes, watched her for a few seconds with an expression that denoted curiosity, put his reading aside and stood up without saying a word.

His footsteps retreated as he approached the hallway that led to the kitchen. Kaylee put on her boots, walked over to the fireplace where she found her jacket, and followed him sneakily.

"Excuse me," she spoke when she felt his penetrating gaze. "I noticed you were getting ready to cook, I'm guessing lunch… I'd like to help. Don't worry, I still remember what your kitchen is like, I think I know where some of the things are."

"Do you like to cook?" He asked, not moving his eyes from what he was doing.

"Yes," she replied happily. "Even though I cannot see what I am preparing, I perceive it and I enjoy it. Nearby, you have some tomatoes, before they rot, I could make a tomato cream, what do you think? I'll just need a little of your help, if it's not too much of a hassle."

Mihawk nodded with a slight hum. Suddenly, he stopped what he was doing and watched how she arranged the objects and vegetables around her; she probably did it so she wouldn't have difficulties looking for what she would eventually need. She rolled up her jacket and washed her hands. She turned slightly towards him, not realizing that his eyes were on her. She took the leek and onion and began to cut them with great agility.

"Looks like you could do well with swords," Mihawk commented in an affable tone.

"Oh, thank you," she laughed softly. "But I wouldn't abandon my firearms. I'm not good at this body against body thing. Close fights are not my strong point."

"By...the way," he cleared his throat and interrupted her in his usual tone. "If you haven't noticed yet, your weapons are on the center table."

"Oh good!" She cheered as she washed the vegetables she had cut. "I thought I had left them in the boat along with my other things… Anyway, would you fry the leek and onion that I sliced? Don't forget the oil, the salt, the oregano and something spicy, but not much of the latter. Meanwhile, I'll cut the tomatoes."

The sounds of the knife hitting the marble stopped after a few moments, she had finished and had been distracted by the charming sound of a bird behind a window. He glanced at the mermaid and his disgust intensified. Her presence in the kitchen was not only strange, it felt uncomfortable.

"If you're ready with those tomatoes, it's about time you added them," he huffed. "I am preparing something else."

"Now I must let this cook and then strain, the cream and…" Kaylee paused and her expression turned sour. "I hope I haven't bothered you."

She smelled what the swordsman was preparing, approached him without touching him, and heard the sound of the fish over the pan. It had a terrible odor to her. She backed away, turning pale.

"I am not surprised by your distress mermaid ; this is for me…"

She fell silent, why did he suddenly call her that? Yes, it was an indisputable fact that she was not human. However, the tone he had used sounded almost disparaging. She thought she should overlook it.

"I have rice in the casserole." he spoke again.

"I love rice! I-it's the best you humans have!" She stated, compiling herself. When she felt him approaching his hand to the salt she added: "Oh, I wouldn't use more, I can tell by the smell that it's perfect now."

"I'll decide that," he answered angrily.

"Suggestions don't hurt anyone," she said, closing her eyes tenderly, as if speaking to a child.

"Whatever."

Kaylee set the silverware and plates on the table, sitting down and finally tasting the tomato cream, she closed her eyes in satisfaction. By tasting what was prepared by her unusually hospitable housemate; or rather, castle-mate, her eyes widened in shock.

"I can't believe you've decided to listen to me about the salt," she admitted in surprise and added happily, "See? It had enough."

Mihawk, who was about to put a bite into his mouth, raised an eyebrow and looked at her uneasily. It amazed him, up to a certain level, that with just the taste and probably smell she had noticed his action.

"No, I couldn't tell," he said in a sarcastic tone.

"Seriously?" She wondered, taking another mouthful. "How weird! Maybe you have a cold."

"Tsk, don't you understand sarcasm?" He asked, annoyed, pouring himself a glass of red wine.

"Were you using it?"

"No," he said sarcastically again.

"Ah, I understand…" Kaylee paused and frowned at once, believing it might be another one.

They remained silent and consequently both ate to the music that the rain was playing as it hit the roof of the castle. She began to feel disturbed; she hated those moments, likewise, she did not dare start a conversation believing that he would refuse to speak to her . "Maybe I should have prepared something sweet from what Leandro taught me... A friend from my first crew" she thought as her face darkened.

The rain became a timid drizzle, and then, rays of light escaped from the clouds, illuminating the table where they both were eating. The moment could favor the appearance of a rainbow, however, on the island of the reigning penumbra, it would not happen. Many of the weak drops that fell evaporated and others stopped falling, leaving aside the possibility that something so beautiful could happen.

The dining room was left alone. Mihawk went to his accommodations and then left the castle without any gesture of farewell. Kaylee decided not to sit idly by.

"I'll clean and air this place a little, maybe that will improve his mood." After reflecting on what she said, she laughed. "As if there could be a difference! Heavens, is he always that serious? I wouldn't be surprised if he is in his sixties, though he has a very attractive voice. Unlike Shanks, he did have the energy to joke around and make me smile, he was also very cheerful. But I've made up my mind to try this… Umm, I wonder where he went. Okay... It may be crazy, but if he comes back with my things, I'll tell him about my plan. If he doesn't, which is the most obvious thing, I will make him talk, because I will not bear this situation any longer. Now if he doesn't come back... I'll start my other little project."

After tidying up a bit, she decided to tour the castle, even if it was only a few rooms; considering that only one had the equivalent to a length greater than twenty of her long steps.

She headed to a lonely room in the subway, descending the stairs without difficulty. Dust was plentiful at every corner, and it seemed like it was only a home for spiders and rats. However, when entering that room, she could only notice a smell of confinement mixed with the aroma of red wine. Kaylee decided to venture further inside. A small source of light was on her right, with it she could guide herself in that great darkness. Moving away from the wall, she immediately collided with a very tall piece of furniture. She leaned against it and listened to the soft clash between glass bottles. Suddenly, something covered the light source that she had and heard the same sound that was heard in the morning.

"It must be the little humandrill," she said to herself, and taking a breath, called out to him, "Little one!"

"Guuh!" The animal yelled in fright and turned away from the window.

Thanks to the fact that her hearing was not hindered by the heavy rain, she was able to perfectly guess the origin of the sound, which guided her towards a back door that she opened without major inconveniences. A breeze of icy air hit her body. She smelled the wet earth and put a foot outside the room.

"This place is perfect for my other plan; the seeds will grow easily around here. Doesn't it, little one?" She said, addressing the mandrill that was a few steps from her. "Who could imagine that there was another door leading to this… garden?"

"Uh?"

The mermaid crouched down and extended her hand again towards the mammal. The animal looked at the hand that he wounded and lowered its gaze, leaping closer until the fur touched her palm. Finally, she was able to have direct contact with him. His fur was soft and when she touched his particular nose, she noticed a pair of fangs under it, the little animal sneezed. While touching his head she felt something strange behind him. It was a hilt. Feeling her touch his weapon, he jumped back, fiercely showing his teeth.

"You carry a sword." She lowered her head sadly. "So many years without war, and they still continue with this attitude… You didn't even see it."

The humandrill looked at her carefully; she was not carrying any weapon. He laid his sword on the grass and approached her again, and then, taking her hand, he placed it on his head again.

"Luckily," Kaylee spoke, stroking him. "With you I can start from the root of this matter."

"With such power he has over these 'beasts', as he calls them, why did he never take advantage of helping them? I really must change that," she thought.

She circled the castle to find the main entrance. The humandrill leapt to his sword and set it back in place before running after her.

The sun began to fade in the distance, leaving some gray clouds that the sunset painted in pink and orange tones. As they approached the castle's entrance, the little animal began to make more and more noises, he cried as if he was injured, his whining increased when he saw the mermaid coming up the stairs. She turned around when she noticed his immense despair.

"What's wrong?" She asked, crouching down in concern. "He hasn't arrived yet. Are you so afraid of him?"

The humandrill's eyes widened in great fear. She reached her hand to the front door, opened it, and felt him freezing, she could only hear the little animal's heart jump under his chest. The animal jumped far away and fled with loud screeches. Kaylee couldn't say goodbye to him. She was about to close the door when she heard the steady footsteps of the Shichibukai in the distance. He fixed his golden eyes on her. Then she realized that the animal was afraid of what was approaching from behind.

"Good afternoon," she greeted with a warm smile.

He didn't answer, she walked in and he closed the door with a serious expression.

"That's the scent of my fruit. Have you gone to get my belongings?"

"You are very careless, surely you had more than this," he pointed out as he approached the center table. "I'll put them here."

"Thank you very much, it's very kind of you," she said, lowering her head slightly.

She walked over to where he was standing and sat in the chair next to him.

"I wish you could listen to me. I want to tell you something, and I believe you should since it concerns you" Kaylee finally spoke.

"Truly, what do you know about what concerns me or not?" She fell silent. "I'll listen, but don't say that kind of thing again."

Kaylee giggled to herself, he was quite a grumpy old man. The swordsman looked at her in a bit of bewilderment and ordered her to begin what she longed to say to him, gave a loud sigh, crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

"I plan to carry out a very important project as soon as possible." She began to speak seriously and raised her voice. "I want to make the humandrills change once and for all!"

Mihawk opened his eyes, looking at her in great amazement. He brought one of his hands close to his mouth, shrugged his back, and began to laugh softly. Although he did not last long holding back his laughter.

"Wahahahaha," laughed, throwing his body back, one hand on his forehead. "Kukukuku don't speak nonsense!"

"It's not nonsense," she replied angrily, rising from the chair.

"Wahaha, how can you be so naive?" He said, watching her with a mocking smile.

"And you ? How can you have such an important position without even being able to do something with your power?! You have no idea what is around you!" She replied angrier than before.

"Well, well! And you think I don't know?" He replied in a calmer tone. "Shut up... don't make me laugh again."

"Well, Sir , you don't." She stood firm and spoke to him formally like the first time. "You think you know enough, but you still have a lot to learn… I don't want to get into an argument with someone who…" she paused and clenched her fists while raising her voice, "Someone who doesn't understand anything! That doesn't prove to have lived so long! That's it! You really are a foolish old man! How is it possible that you still haven't realized how much you could have helped these animals if it wasn't for your selfishness? Even more! I wonder, how is it possible that you are part of the World Government when it has committed so many injustices? Oh Sir, no wonder humandrills and men fear you! Your heart is only capable of beating…" Kaylee trailed off instantly. She blew air out with great force. "I can't… Excuse me."

Distressed, she grabbed her flintlock and revolver and headed out the front door as fast as she could. She was embarrassed for yelling at an elder like that. Although he was cold and inhospitable, she had to calm down. After all, he had helped her. When she left, she did not close the door, this time, she forgot with so many thoughts in her head. Mihawk watched her walk away silently. His face was expressionless and turned bitter when he saw the humandrill cub follow her.

"Perfect! He chooses the best moment to laugh for the first time, at least in front of me. How foolish! I must admit that I am being blind! Figuratively!... How is it possible that I could not control myself a little more? I told him everything I thought, I blurted everything out. I should have kept those words to myself. But I said them! Oh, no, he surely hates me," she thought as she walked with an impatient step.

"Guuh?" Growled the little humandrill.

"What are you doing around here?" She asked, calmer. "I thought you were back in the forest."

The humandrill began to jump with happiness and hugged her legs, because his height did not allow him more than that. She laughed softly.

"It's good that you're more cheerful," she said as she leaned down a little and stroked him behind his ears. "Ah, I understand, you were worried about me? I'm fine! The grumpy swordsman has not hurt me. How about we do some mischief? We'll steal that hat from the old man, okay?"

"Uhh!" The little animal leapt nimbly away from her.

"Where are you going...?"

The faint smell of wine could be felt by her.

"Mihawk?" She thought, blushing with shame. "The sounds of the humandrill in the distance are very high, I didn't realize he was here. Was he listening to us closely?... Oh no ... Don't! ... Don't get near to him, don't come close to him, don't…"

The cry of the little humandrill was heard loudly in her ears. She felt how Hawk Eyes had drawn his sword and its dangerous cut was getting close to the cub. Kaylee was unaware of what had happened between them, but she was certain she had to act. In the first fraction of the second, she drew her flintlock, in the next fraction she felt the mandrill take refuge behind her leg, and to conclude the fleeting moment she pointed her weapon at Mihawk.

"I won't let you hurt him!" shouted at him "If you want to kill it, you will have to pass over me first!"

"What an unpleasant attitude," Mihawk pointed out as he held his Kokuto Yoru and looked at her with disdain. "It would be a waste of time to kill you and a waste to use the edge of this sword on both, besides, I don't want putrid bodies near my castle."

"Don't tell me you drew your great sword because a small animal has bothered you... That's immature." The little humandrill looked at her, moved away from her legs and handed her something. Still pointing at Mihawk, she reached for the object with her other hand. "A hat?" She raised her head in the direction of the Shichibukai. "It's your hat, Sir! "

"The one you agreed to take from me," he said, putting his black sword at his back. His irritation was growing in his voice.

"Illustrate me, why did you draw your sword?" Kaylee put her weapon away and took a few steps closer to him, challenging him. She continued her formal treatment.

"Return that to me," he got closer as well, his anger already evident.

"On one condition," she said, handing him the stolen item. "You will not kill any humandrills during my stay, as I will carry out my plan anyways."

"I very much doubt that a little girl's plan will work," he raged, snatching the hat from her hands.

"Oh! And what does the old geezer bet?" She asked with an obstinate gesture. She was proud to use the insult she had learned on Shanks' ship; and especially for remembering it.

She felt him quickly close the distance between them.

"You're about thirty years old, aren't you?"

"Thirty-one." She took a step back, startled by the inadvertent invasion of her personal space.

"Well, not even ten years ago when I was your age, I was like that..." he declared gravely, he studied her reaction, when he turned back to the castle, he added satisfied: "Definitely, you're the childish one here."

The humandrill ran in circles around her. Kaylee was completely flushed, she had mixed feelings. It has been a long time since she went through those situations.

A year ago, with her first crew...

"What is love to you, Shakespear?" He asked his historian one day.

"Oh! Love! What a thrilling feeling!" he began to speak grandly. "Passion ! That's it! Love is a feeling full of passion, painful, bitter, sweet, full of emotions. Men have often lost themselves in this vile feeling, they fall, suffer, and even change. Love is capable of many things. When it affects someone's heart, that person will never be the same again."

"..." The masked man did not utter words for a few seconds. "Umm, I think I've fallen in love. When I was younger, I experienced something similar, but never with this intensity."

"Who am I to talk about such a wonderful experience?" He asked, raising his voice again. "It emerges in each one in a different manner, it expresses itself in many ways. It is unexpected, it is disconcerting and very painful when it is not reciprocated. I would not be surprised if it was from our crew, with so many rumors lately, but you well know that I support you, confess your love! Whether you should suffer or rejoice."

Captain Mask was believed to be an okama, because he walked delicately and had beautiful hands. For reasons like that, the love life for the mermaid behind the mask was difficult. So, she took refuge in the romantic stories she read in braille. The Blind Pirates musician was a man with a deep voice, his smell was very pleasant and made her blush, she spent a lot of time with him, she loved listening to his music. Sometimes the masked man would ask him to read a book to him, they would happily talk about many subjects... he would never have suspected that he was someone else.

At the end of a love song that he sang to him, Captain Mask asked him to lock his room door.

"Everyone thinks there is a monster behind my mask. I always wondered; how do I tell him?" Captain Mask began to speak.

"Captain, what are you talking about?"

"I feel something very deep for you," he spoke bluntly. "I was afraid to tell you. But I know you are a good man. Everyone here are valuable humans, you all have made me happy. And I would like to reveal my biggest secret...to you"

"Captain! I am honored by your beautiful feelings." He broke off nervous when he saw how his Captain took off his mask and revealed the face of a beautiful mermaid. He gulped and rushed to the bed where she was sitting.

"What is it?" Kaylee exclaimed, scared to feel his hand pressing hard on her wrist. Suddenly she smelled strong sake and could clearly see his aura, rotten with bad intentions.

"Oh my, if I'd only known before!"

"Don't approach me like that. What are you trying to do?!"

"Beautiful and irresistible, you must be mine... How soft is your skin!" He said, pointing a pistol at her forehead. "It seems that the moment of my betrayal came early, and I will no longer kill you as I had planned, first I will have a little fun, besides, you love me, right?"

"Get away from me!" She sobbed as his hands tried to catch her.

"Don't resist! You wanted this!"

After a few moments a shot was heard in Captain Mask's cabin. The mermaid quickly covered herself with her disguise and began to cry with all her might, screaming until she was breathless as she hit the corpse next to her with her fists.

Kaylee opened her eyes and walked back to the castle. Thinking about that moment had only opened her painful wound."I keep thinking about the past, about how it would have been better to act, even knowing that there is no way to look back; even more when I'm blind," she thought as she walked with her head down. "I'm afraid to even feel something special… again. I must do something to stop this feeling."

The next day, in a distant room upstairs a dim light reached her eyes, waking her up from her pleasant sleep. Kaylee stretched out and pulled her face out of the water. Her illuminated face smiling at the new day that was beginning. She had finally slept much more comfortably, inside a tub full of water. The night before, Mihawk had led her to a room furnished and prepared for her, according to him, the stay could last until she gave up on her 'comical project'.

It was very early, near six in the morning, but she felt enough energy to walk all over the island. She listened to the sea for a few moments. In her dreams she had heard Shanks' voice and smiled at the memory. She missed him, and she remembered a particular moment.

"The scarf! How could I have forgotten?" She parted her mermaid tail and time after dressing she approached her things. Inside her clothes she found what she was looking for.

"I can't believe Mihawk is younger than I imagined." She remembered his words and blushed again. "So, I'm the childish one here. I just blushed because I felt embarrassment. Not because of his hoarse voice while he got near me. It would be very impertinent to try to see his face… But what I'm sure of is that I'm not attractive to him. He is so indifferent, so serious. I'm sure he never smiles! Maybe, he is special in his own way... Tsk! No! I must stop thinking about this nonsense. I must hide this in my heart..."

She put the scarf that Shanks gave her over her head and then withdrew from the castle, forgetting again to close the front door.

"Uh uh uh!" The little humandrill greeted her with joy.

"Hi, good morning!" Kaylee replied as she folded her blind cane and tucked it into her holster. "Today I will walk a little. So, you'll be my guide, okay?"

"Guh?" he obviously hadn't quite understood, but started to follow her nonetheless.

"Just prevent me from falling," she stroked his head. "Today it hasn't rained, the days have been very beautiful. Ouch!" She tripped." A stone! I don't think you are doing a good job little one, Mhihihi Aaah!" She fell to the floor and felt it. "What is this?... These are cobblestones, they are in very bad condition. Must be the ruins of the Shikkearu Kingdom. Not even with my blind cane could be easy to walk around here."

Eyes similar to those of a hawk watched her closely, almost predating her. The little humandrill became uneasy, noticing the same presence that had attacked him the day before. He felt no refuge in Kaylee seeing that she hadn't come out with any of her firearms, so he fled. She felt something strange, got up and felt a cold run all over her spine. The atmosphere was too static, it was as if someone was preparing to approach her. Then she noticed Mihawk's aura, ready to attack her. Seeing herself besieged, she began to back away, but bumped into a tree from behind. She felt his steps ahead approaching her.

"That scarf?" He said, putting his hand hard on the trunk.

"They gave it to me." Kaylee listened as he incrusted his mighty sword on the ground. "Again?! I don't understand why you draw your sword."

He watched her warily and awakened in the midst of his thoughts, a scene from the past.

"You know, Mihawk," said a young Shanks as they both drank alcohol. "After thinking about it, I think I should find my half bottle."

"..." He looked at him doubtfully. "Isn't it half-orange?

"Come on man!" Laughed the red haired. "My version sounds more poetic. Or at least more fit for us. You like a pretty bottle of wine. I love a good bottle of sake."

"Whoever it is, they will surely escape…" Taking a sip from his glass.

"They won't make it," he replied, looking at him with an almost sinister look.

"How exactly?"

"I'll identify them with this scarf," he said, taking out what he described. "It's the same color as my hair! With it, everyone will know that my eyes are on that one."

"Good luck with that," he said with a sigh.

"Dahaha Don't get jealous Hawkeyes!"

The mermaid averted her face when she felt a punch on the log near her ear. She felt cornered. The swordsman's face closer than before.

"What were you doing with that idiot of Shanks?" The anger in him had emerged.

To be continue...

Author's note:

Hi There! If you are reading this fic I'd be very happy if you gimme a review~ let me know what do u think! :3