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.

Chapter 10: Dangerous thoughts

Her lower lip was trembling, still not replying; could not. Her chest rose and fell heavily. The aura of the man beside her was emanating fury, he gazed at her penetratingly, seeking for her answer. He saw her lower her head. As Captain Mask, she had heard the rumors regarding the swordsman and how terrifying it was to spot him even at far distances, she believed they were mere exaggerations. Her apprehension went much further, without her firearms she felt unprotected and if she pushed him aside, she felt that he would return the aggression.

Mihawk noticed an anguished expression on her that puzzled him, he swallowed hard and crossed his arms in front of her, giving her space.

"Answer, mermaid," he ordered impatiently, but in a softer voice.

"H-How?" She asked trying to keep her composure. She thought: "Did he just give me more space? His aura soothed… I must stop judging this male human, if he had wanted to do something to me, he'd have done it a long time ago."

"I recognize that scarf," he replied, frowning.

She suddenly raised her head, her fear completely gone. The golden eyes of her host showed bewilderment.

"Wait a second," she spoke angrily, making him to step back, "Why would you care to know that? It's not something that affects you, is it?"

"I never said I was interested in knowing," he replied, turning his back on her, "I was just asking."

"Oh! What a way to ask! yeah normal, very normal," she said mockingly, crossing her arms with a big smile. "Have you noticed it? It was sarcasm, Mihihi, I already learned how to use it."

"When you use sarcasm you don't say it,"

"Umm… next time." She frowned and turned to him again. "Now that I realize it, you told me that you recognized my scarf. You named Shanks even though I never mentioned him."

"I've known Shanks longer than you think," he revealed without hesitation.

"Did it have any meaning? The scarf…" she asked, remembering the information the redhead hadn't told her.

"…" Mihawk gave her a quick look. "It is nothing of your concern."

"Using your own words, I could ask: what do you know about what concerns me or not?" Kaylee replied with a serious look. "You do nothing but fill me with questions."

"You do too… And I'm not arguing like a brat," Mihawk countered.

Kaylee opened her eyes and laughed to herself. She couldn't help it; his irritation was clearly noticeable.

"You treat me as a brat but I'm not the one who's older here and exaggerating by drawing a big sword. You think you can threaten me with that?"

"You have already made it clear to me that you are not afraid of my title of swordsman... So, what is the use of threatening you with a sword you can't see?" She listened attentively; arms crossed waiting for an explanation. "The sword is for the humandrills to not approach. Lately…" He wanted to add something but stopped. "They all know it and fear it, it's enough to just incrust it in the ground."

"Do you remember that after almost a month you were still upset about the 'cowardly rat' insult? And I'm not even talking about when I treated you like an elder!"

"Let's not talk about that now."

"Well, if you want my scarf so badly, get it off my head," she teased him.

"I'm not interested," he stated as he began to retreat.

"Oh sure, having caused such a fuss over a scarf perfectly denotes your lack of interest, oh! And of course, the ten years of difference between us that give you that great degree of maturity," she scoffed and added with an ironic tone. "Or do you just say it because you know you couldn't?"

"You and your childish games," he protested after a pause.

He reached out his hand quickly towards her, but Kaylee took an instant step back, avoiding him. He was a bit surprised.

"And I didn't even use my haki... I hear you and I can avoid you." She gave him a mocking smile.

"You don't say!" Mihawk replied, advancing to her, again stretching his arm. "You just cheated."

She laughed with the scarf in her hand. He watched her for a few moments; he had his whole palm resting on her head, feeling her soft hair. Mihawk widened his eyes in a bit of awe at his own action and pulled his hand away in the blink of an eye, then cleared his throat and spoke seriously.

"Isn't that the humandrill cub that followed you?" he asked, looking to the side.

Laughter entered her mouth quickly; she could not believe that the sound of that animal had gone unnoticed to her sharp ears. She turned to listen carefully, when she did that, she felt the scarf been snatched from her. There was no animal nearby, he had tricked her.

Though not one of them uttered words on their way back to the castle, one of them could not get rid of the soft smile that was on their face.

They were very close to their destination when Kaylee heard an owl nearby. The sudden sound took her by surprise, causing her to startle and drop her blind cane. Kaylee bent down and felt the ground, dirtying her hands with the damp earth, while her hands advanced along the ground, she only managed to get away from her object, her staff had been folded again and was close to the swordsman.

"How troublesome you are. Here it is."

Mihawk picked up the object and held it in his hands. Looking at her from the angle that she was, it seemed that they were looking directly at each other, he stood up without saying a word and took the scarf out of his pocket, handing it to her.

"So, you don't call me childish old geezer"

"Oh, it seems someone got offended by being called old."

"Maybe." He raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly at her.

The day went by almost normally. But before sunset, he said goodbye to her; apparently, he'd return some days later. The swordsman had gone and his presence would not be present until a stormy night, a week later.

One of those days, at sunset, the mermaid called with joy to the little humandrill to offer him some fruit. Her idea to tame him was based on repetition. She always called him at the same time, and he was already able to return when the time of her call approached. Kaylee realized that they were not only very intelligent animals, but also very curious and in need of affection.

It was getting dark; she knew in advance that the swordsman was not coming back. She sat in one of the armchairs near the dead fireplace. A strange feeling surrounded her.

"Am I forcing my trust towards him? I know I shouldn't judge any more, but I can't avoid these speculations. What would happen if upon his arrival he brings marines? Bah, as if I had such a big reward!... Oh, what if he reveals that I am Captain Mask to someone? He is a Shichibukai after all and I'm a pirate. No, no... these thoughts are absurd! In the first place, he wouldn't be interested in having more company in here."

Sounds from the sky let her know that a thunder might fall at any moment. A chill ran down her spine, she felt that she should flee, but she could only think of hiding. She ran through the stairs to find her room, sat on her bed and covered herself with the blankets. She tried to distract herself by thinking of other things until her mind turned back to the swordsman.

"He wouldn't be interested in having more company in here…" She stopped and her heart thumped hard under her chest as her cheeks flushed, "He is hardly interested in my presence in the castle... But, until now, I don't perceive malice on his part, in fact… he can be gentle. This is not good, how is it possible that he has been able to cause me these feelings?"

The next day, after giving his little friend some fruits, she had decided to walk through the southern sector of the Island, where there were fewer humandrills. The little humandrill walked away from her, in a strange state of alert. Her steps were confident, her haki was more under her control, and she saw the silhouettes of the objects around her and the aura of the surrounding creatures.

"Now, it feels more natural." She stopped when she realized she needed her blind cane again. "The only thing that will allow me to be closer to what it is to see, using it without the presence of danger is a great advance, I am happy."

"Wah!", was heard near her.

"It's not a humandrill sound," she said quietly.

From the bushes a curious bear cub was watching her, she was unable to see him, but it was a beautiful creature to the naked eye, tenderness emanating from it. Its big glowing eyes looked at her with curiosity, its little ears moved and approached her friendly, until a cut with a sword hurt the face of the small animal. She smelled blood.

"What the…! She raised her voice frightened.

"Guhh!" Screamed the little humandrill, then snarled at the other animal, which had already fled in fear.

"You just hurt the animal in front of me, I couldn't even know what it was ..."

"Uhgg," he growled at her.

"Don't tell me, you are jealous?" She leaned toward the pointy-toothed animal and smiled warmly at him. "You know I love you. I don't want you to hurt others for that reason."

The humandrill opened his small eyes in confusion and a strange joy made him jump to all sides, until he cuddled up on her legs.

"May I keep your weapon?" She asked as she rested her hand on the hilt of the sword. "If you give it to me, you'll have a double ration of fruit," she said as she stroked his head.

The humandrill shook his head, showing his teeth fiercely. Apparently, that weapon was important to him, she closed her eyes and sighed with resignation and decided to try the next day.

The night of the fateful storm arrived, the wind whistled loudly and made the trunks of the old trees creak. She did not feel capable of falling asleep. Like the night before, she had tried to distract herself, this time remembering stories of romance and princesses like the ones Shakespear or that unnamable used to read to her. But even so, she could not fall asleep and it was finally exhaustion that made her sleep and plunge into the waters in which she slept.

As the raindrops hit her window violently, she shook her head from side to side; something was attacking her dreams.

A familiar silhouette with a devilish smile was hitting her face, she ran away from that form that she despised so much, although it reached her as if it were made of mud. Kaylee was climbing a spiral staircase, it seemed there was no end until she heard a huge explosion and the unreachable ceiling disappeared, being surrounded by a large cliff.

"Captain, don't leave me like this," the figure begged sarcastically.

"You're already dead! You are a monster! Get away from me!"

She would rather die than approach the shadow that represented that man. Then she ran to the edge of the tower and threw herself into the abyss.

At that moment she woke up jumping out of the water in the tub. Everything was dark again, at that time of the morning there was total darkness. She fled the bathroom and terror seized her, she desperately needed light. She dressed up and could be seen walking shakily, wearing a long nightgown. She left her room quickly feeling her surroundings, guided by the smell of wine. To her right she felt a source of light and, in front of her, she knew there was the door that led to Mihawk's bedroom.

"Have you left your light on all these days?" she asked herself. "Whatever the case, I'll sleep here."

She leaned her back against the great door and fearfully brought her legs to her chest, then exhaustion overcame her again and she closed her eyes.

As the Shichibukai observed how the curved mountains were illuminated with the first rays of dawn, a few steps approached the room where he was and then a sweet melody reached his ears, it was a humming that he had already heard before.

He turned to the voice, Kaylee was behind him, everything was seen with a diffuse halo.

"Now, will you tell me the truth?" He asked sternly.

"I just wanted company... friendship," she replied with her head lowered and her hair hiding her face.

"And so, you made Shanks your new target?"

"Jealous that I take him away from you?"

"Ridiculous... I understand why you despair making friends in these seas. You are not only weak, but you are also dependent and vulnerable. Your past connects to that, tell me what is the price you have paid?"

She slapped him indignant. He was shocked and when he turned his face to her, their eyes met, like that time in the forest…

"You are insensitive!" She yelled, turning her back on him, hugging herself in anguish. "You know that I have no one. You really lack of a heart!"

"Go back to the sea then!" he objected angrily. "Why are you still on this island if you despise it so much?"

Kaylee took a couple of steps toward him, raised her head, and looked into his eyes. Hers were true emeralds that contrasted with her hair of a reddish tone like wine, she wore an elegant blue dress, like the depths of the ocean, the curves drawn under those fabrics were reminiscent of the beauty of her species.

"You're right," she said with a mocking smile. "I should be going. Humandrills are as stubborn as you are, they will never change, but you know? They at least aren't as horrible." Her eyes scanned his facial features, stopping at his lips. "Your face disgusts me."

"Fool, do you think that matters to me?" He said, turning his head to the side. "Your words do not concern me..."

"Sir, you know it's not like that." She extended a hand to his face forcing him to look at her. She smirked and shood her head slowly. "Every word that I have said to you resonates in your thoughts. If it weren't like that, you wouldn't look at me the way you do, but be careful, remember that I have no body against body experience."

Her delicate arms rested on his broad shoulders, he remained motionless and looked at her annoyingly. The eyes of the mermaid were lurking into his.

"Didn't you fear physical contact...mermaid?"

A tender smile was directed to him. He frowned without noticing that he had brought his hand to her back. His hand was gently cupping her wavy hair.

"You still can't figure out what's going on, huh? You're the one who's even afraid of calling me by my name…" She whispered in his ear, freezing his actions. Everything turned dark and many mirrors appeared around them, he looked to the side and saw the reflection of both and the way she moved her hands and caressed the torso that showed his shirt, she bit her lips, holding back a smile in vain. His eyes were covered with a dark blindfold and the mirrors began to crack. "What good are those eyes for, Hawk Eyes?" She hugged his neck, brought her lips close to his and stopped before touching them to speak again. "You will never get what you desire."

Mihawk opened his eyes with a twitch, he had awakened. He sat down and placed one of his hands on his forehead, then got up from his bed and moved his curtain to one side, letting in a little light; it was a cloudy day. He collected water in a silver bowl and washed his face. He looked at his hand, remembering how her delicate hairs had felt in it. He tried to stifle the memory, though his heartbeats continued in his throat and his breathing was still heavy.

"Just a meaningless dream," he sighed annoyed after coming out of the bathroom. "I am not like that and she is... childish, likewise, she can't even see. These tricks of the unconscious... Although, there is one thing that is true: why should I care about what she says? I hope she leaves soon; she is causing me nothing but annoyance. Undoubtedly, she should go... I don't need to figure out anything."

Kaylee was sleeping peacefully until the door opened and she fell backward, waking up scared.

"What happened?! Where am I?... Ah! I remember. Mihawk? When did you…?"

"What are you doing here?" He asked, interrupting her and, as always, getting to the point.

"Impatient! That's what I was going to explain! Last night I… had a nightmare and I was looking for a source of light so I could go back to sleep and…" Kaylee trailed off as she heard his footsteps moving away, a soft smell of male cologne could be felt. "When did you arrive?"

Mihawk grunted. At that moment he only had his pants, a wet shirt on and a towel draped over his shoulders, he had recently come out of a cold shower. He continued his steps but, while his back was turned, he spoke to her.

"Why should you care, brat?"

"Brat?" She repeated in a low voice and added indignantly. "Such a lack of respect! You bitter old geezer!"

"What was that?!" She thought in an uproar."This is a nightgown, nothing abnormal or childish ... Calling me like that, am I like a little girl to this man? Then, I'm not attractive to him... Ahg! Why should I care? I shouldn't... Surely, this is due to the time I treated him like an elder, that's right! This is his revenge! He's the brat!"

Kaylee lowered her head and went to her room, but her steps were interrupted when she heard the moans of the little humandrill on the first floor. He was whopping out of the window; what was becoming a habit. Then she went downstairs, Mihawk was apparently in the living room and wouldn't notice her. She opened one of the windows and brought in the mandrill, she did not hear any metallic clash, he did not carry his sword again. She stroked him proud and they went upstairs together.

The little humandrill's shrieks reached Mihawk's ears and he hurried to the place where he thought he heard them. He saw the animal's dirt tracks on the steps of the stairs. His gaze changed and a great anger surrounded him. Her room was half open; he guessed Kaylee was in the kitchen, having seen her come down. He then entered the room, discovering that the prints were heading to the bathroom. Without thinking, he opened the door in one fell swoop.

His eyes that previously expressed anger towards an indefinite horizon, drew the soft contour of the woman in front of them. When he blinked, he lowered his eyes, turned and closed the door quickly.

There was a long moment of silence.

"What were you thinking… Kaylee?" He said at last, covering his forehead with the palm of his hand.

She was inside the tub, her fishtail sticking out the side and only her hair hiding her frontward attributes. The humandrill covered in the bubbling of the tub watched silently.

"Aaaah!" She yelled covering herself with her arms, blood pooling on her face. "You foolish clown! Y-you know I can't see you! Don't take advantage of it!"

"What kind of man do you think I am?" He replied in a tone that almost expressed hatred. "The door is already closed!"

Mihawk hated to feel the mixture of nervousness and embarrassment, because they caused a pressure on his chest and that strange sensation of heat around his cheeks that he despised so much. He backed away from the door as fast as he could.

The sky tinted in the warm colors of sunset welcomed the mermaid, who had been locked in her room since morning. She had a door open to the garden, waiting for the arrival of the little humandrill who had left after the incident. She wore Shanks's scarf over her head, and a loose long-sleeved shirt.

After a few moments he could be seen playing with the gleaming little humandrill. Mihawk read a newspaper, or was what he was trying to do, he was very distracted thinking and giving her a look or two.

"How naive", he thought, "only because that is a cub, he comes close to her, otherwise he would have already hurt her...".

"What name would you give to him?" She asked with a shy smile on her face.

"Ugh, don't be ridiculous, leave me alone..." he answered bluntly.

Kaylee beckoned to the humandrill, he left and she entered closing the glass door. She went up to her room and came back. Mihawk was concentrating on his reading. She sat near the fireplace; she was restless.

"What are you reading?" She asked a little indifferent, she knew from the sound of the paper what it was.

"The newspaper," he replied, immersed in his reading.

"Do you have any fantastic books or stories? Much better if it's one of those about princesses, with a noble prince and a lot of romance," the bright on her face expression was obvious.

Mihawk glared at her display of unmeasured fascination.

"I don't have that kind of narrative here, and if I did, I wouldn't read it to you," he replied, intimidatingly.

"Mihawk, it might not look like it, but I'm trying to act normal..." she placed her hand on her forehead, "and not cause problems, but your lack of empathy forces me to clarify a few things: I'd rather not refer to what happened earlier today and I hope neither you do it. J-Just tell me if you… tell me what did you…" She pressed her lips she was too nervous to continue, her blush was perceptible to him. "It doesn't matter, the other thing I want to add is… a request."

He looked up, waiting for her to speak again, somewhat rushed.

"I want to see your face."

The fingers holding his newspaper were clenching it tightly, the tension easily readable in the eyes that rested on her. His guest approached him shyly waiting for an answer, he returned his gaze to the paper.

"I thought you were aware of your blindness."

"The eyes aren't the only instrument," she explained with a bit of annoyance. "Have you already forgotten that blind people can see through their other senses?"

"..." He shut up and gave her a quick glance.

"I just want to know what you are like, what features you have."

"Hmp." He frowned, his eyes locked on hers.

"I'm sorry," she said, laying her fingers over her mouth. "I was very daring with my request ..."

"You see through your touch..."

"Yes," she confirmed. "Truth be told, I had never asked a human before. In fact, I haven't seen human faces with my hands. I have been told and I perceive that they are similar to ours. That was enough for me but I'm curious"

"Go ahead, I'm curious too," he added in a whisper, "I hope you don't fright."

Kaylee was surprised at his phrase. Was he an unattractive man? Was his face unpleasant? She positioned herself in front of him, spread her hands with a little fear, stopping them in midair. She really wasn't one to look at the physical, she didn't quite understand the difference between beautiful and horrid, she paid more attention to the smell, the voice, the intonation, the touch, the shape of the back, the sound of the steps. She decided to ignore those words.

"Remain seated… I need you to guide my hand to your head," Kaylee was shocked. "You are not bald. I knew it!"

"Excuse me?" he asked, disturbed.

"I'm sorry ... It's funny and weird to even to feel baldness, it reminds me of my father," she said as her hands ran around the contour of his head.

"His hair is soft, short and straight, his forehead is wide and he seems to have a deep frown, now it has wrinkled more." Kaylee was surprised. "Is he angry? Uncomfortable? His eyebrows are like arrows, and his skin is as smooth as my mother's. He really shouldn't be over forty."

"Close your eyes,"she ordered him. "They have a very interesting shape, arched, thin...", she thought. "I heard that hawks are predatory birds, very skilled in flight. I don't understand humans... fearing the gaze of such a majestic bird is extremely ignorant. You are known as Hawk Eyes." She smiled with a blush on her cheeks. "I bet they are very beautiful."

Mihawk opened his eyes. Kaylee had hers closed as she imagined the swordsman in front of her. He narrowed her eyes, relaxing his gaze and clenched his jaw in an effort to suppress facial emotions.

"He has sideburns and his ears are warm. His nose is straight, well defined, this is the tip of his nose, lower down... His lips are soft, he does not smile much, the corner of these shows it. He's got a short beard, it extends to his chin and reaches the sideburns, his chin is regular. The beard on him is charming... I have felt something near his lips, I must confirm it ... His cheeks are interrupted by something... It can't be!"

"You have mustaches! I like them very much! You seem to be my type, Mhihihi ..." She smiled blushing as she patted him on the shoulder. "Well, I'm done."

Kaylee moved to his left side, and with the index finger of her right hand reached the edge of his mouth.

"And how I supposed you are a very serious man, smile a little, that way you'll look better," she said as she forced him to smile. Then she withdrew.

Mihawk watched her walk away, annoyed at first glance, massaged his temples and then brought one of his fingers to his lips.

"What did she mean by that? She has serious problems…" Unintentionally, when he returned to his reading, he sighed and finally released the warm smile he was hiding.

In her room Kaylee was desperate.

"I can't believe what I did! Shame on me! You're my type! This is your fault dad! You said facial hair was a masculine charm and I told him he was my type! Now I won't be able to be around him," she thought, swaying and moving her legs nervously.

Kaylee went downstairs and grabbed her last bag with fruits and left the castle through the kitchen door. She needed some fresh air, but the atmosphere outside was gloomier than usual.

"Little Humandrill? W-Why does it smell like blood?" She asked herself, turning pale.

"Guhh," the creature replied without much strength left.

"W-What happened here?" She wondered in anguish as she tried to reach the little baboon.

When she found him, felt wounds over him and hugged him worriedly. A big humandrill suddenly emerged from the bushes, Kaylee took a piece of fruit from her bag for the little one who was very weak. Taking a bite, the big humandrill approached her, showing her teeth.

"You can have one if you want," she said, handing her a piece of fruit.

The big humandrill stood on her legs and threatened Kaylee, but the little humandrill stopped her. The big humandrill seemed to be his mother, for when she calmed down, she stroked him and applied a strange herbal cream to his wounds.

"You are very smart… Wait, you are also hurt? Who did this to you? Was it Hawk Eyes?" She wondered disconsolately.

To be continue…