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 12: Search in the dark
"One day all those fairy tales would get to her head… A prince? Really?" Mihawk thought from his big chair. It was early in the morning, he was caressing his temples with his fingers, trying to retrieve the little patience he had left thanks to someone so scandalous. According to what he read, Kaylee was going through a confusional syndrome, she could recover in a matter of hours or, what he feared the most, in several months. Such a brain problem did not allow the mermaid to distinguish between fantasy and reality, in that state of delusions and hallucinations she had already fallen and collided into walls and furniture a few times.
He sighed with his head down and heard the waves of the sea against the shore. Undoubtedly, he was far from the ocean and the smell of fresh blood shed by the humandrills was not possible to be perceived, much less after the impetuous storm of the previous night. Only the characteristic smell of damp earth and fresh grass remained.
The squawk of a flock of birds interrupted his thoughts. The sound they produced could be confused with the screams of a frightened crowd, which would not be strange if there were people in such a place. They flew over the castle and did not stop their travel there, as the weather in the devastated Shikkearu Kingdom was autumnal and therefore not suitable for those birds. Despite this, the autumn that was there could not be notable as such, the great expanse of evergreen trees, the overwhelming humidity and mist that remained in the surroundings of the castle were typical of an autumn that was only seen at night.
The staircase echoed with her quick steps.
"Did you hear? Those were enchanted birds!" She spoke excitedly. The still confused mermaid was using a sheet as a dress that she had tied around her body with one of her corsets.
"What are you doing here? You should be in your room... I'm sure I left your door locked," Mihawk said as he covered his eyes with his hand, clearly exhausted.
Kaylee didn't listen to him and walked with cheerful steps to the door that led to one of the balconies. She stretched her neck and felt the warm air blowing, she smiled and nimbly climbed onto the railing, she was barefoot and therefore her small tail fins were visible. Mihawk after seeing her risky action from the corner of his eye, approached quickly and grabbed her hand, also noticing the strange clothing she was wearing.
"What...?" He snorted irritably. "What are you doing, mermaid? Don't be irresponsible. Come down now."
"What's up Prince? Ah! If you get up here with me, I'll go down. Okay?" She replied while laughing playfully.
"…" Mihawk stepped onto the balcony with her, the muscles in his face stiff.
Acceding to her request was the only thing he could do; it was not possible to reason with her. The night before, after waking up, she had run through the whole castle and almost threw herself out of a window "jumping to cotton candy". Convincing her to get back to her room was a laborious task.
"The night before I went to sleep so joyful but when I woke up, I noticed that you had locked me up." Her hand rested delicately on his chest, "Why did you lock me up?"
"I wonder how you escaped..."
Her face flushed, she laughed softly and raised her head towards him with a sweet smile.
"I get it, you wanted to protect me. You know? The enchanted birds have given me a gift, I can fly! and I want to fly with you... Shall we?"
She grabbed both of the swordsman's hands and jumped into the void dragging him with her, Mihawk pulled her close to his body and hugged her to prevent them from killing each other. At first, she exclaimed with enthusiasm, she felt the wind on her face and hair, her heart was pounding, despite this, she began to get scared little by little and clung tightly to the swordsman's neck.
"I-I'm not flying! What's going on?!" She screamed in dismay. She felt him jump agilely from side to side and suddenly they stopped. "I did not fly."
"Well, of course you did. You flew with the grace of a fish." He smiled at her, trying to hold his urge to laugh, "We're safe now, you can let go."
"Nothing is chasing us?" She asked still clinging to him.
"No," he answered curtly and annoyed, "Now get away."
"I don't want to." She brought her face to his neck and placed her nose and lips on it. "Oh! I like your smell."
Mihawk kept a troubled gaze, felt heat surround his body and forcibly pulled her away from him. Although what she had done took him by surprise, he did not imagine that her words would cause him to lose his face so much.
"Come on, enter the castle now," he ordered, taking her hand.
"I want to explore the palace gardens, please!" She begged with the sparkling eyes of a young woman full of illusions.
"…" He raised an eyebrow and released her. "Just leave me alone for now," he said, as he left.
Mihawk saw how the humandrill cub was watching her from afar, he looked at him and he returned an expectant look to the swordsman. Mihawk nodded at the little animal to follow her. The mandrill was still wounded, but luckily, she walked slowly and joyfully through the dense forest, towards the south side of the island where the presence of humandrills was scarce, the singing of the mermaid guided him towards her, and at the same time captivated other animals that were nearby.
She felt surrounded by love and joy, she hugged herself. She lay for a few moments in the undergrowth and mud, thinking they were fresh grass and pools of magical water. The day was warming up and she smelled flowers; at least that was correct, as that was an area with rose bushes. She took some and carefully took out their thorns and used them to decorate her hair, she helped herself with the bandage that she still had on. She looked like a nymph; a muddy one.
"Fairy friends! Where are you? Is it tea time yet?" She raised her voice tenderly and suddenly heard the sound of some birds splashing in the water. "In the lake? I'm coming, wait!"
Kaylee ran towards a stale pond and tripped over some roots, the birds hearing the fall fled from the careless woman quickly. Feeling the humidity of the ground, she jumped into the water in front of her and swam until she could not feel the earth under her feet-fins and then sank.
"Hello?" She asked aloud while under the water.
A curious toad approached her; it was not normal to see a mermaid on those sides. So, it guided her to the bottom of the water with other aquatic animals.
"Nice to meet you," she said, and in the spur of a second, she felt her arm being pulled hard from above. "Ah!"
"Uuh!" The little humandrill screamed as he pulled her to the surface, the mammal had almost no air in his lungs.
"The Sea King!" Chills surrounded her, and then she took her whistle and blew it hard. "I won't let you hurt my friends!"
"Guh!" He howled in fear, swimming towards the shore.
"You won't escape!" Kaylee yelled coming out of the pond as well, she took out a pistol that was under her makeshift dress, tied at the height of her thigh.
She ran barefoot, avoiding with great skill the trees and what could harm her; apparently her haki was working unconsciously. Although, when she stepped on the sand of the beach, her mind went blank.
There was a name in her memory, 'Estelle' didn't know who it was or what it meant.
"I feel like it's an important name, could it be my... mother's name?"
Suddenly, a very severe headache weakened her and she tried to walk into the sea but a large sea turtle caused her to stumble, falling face-first into the sand. The humandrill also stopped, however, it was because he was exhausted and, with his last energies, he climbed a tree to seek shelter.
"The sea?" She wondered in consternation as her eyes closed slowly.
The stillness and silence of the castle were never a problem for the swordsman, but with the mermaid in that state, such a tranquility only annoyed him, and filled him with anxiety. He decided to ignore the matter and retired to his room.
He was engrossed.
His elbows were on his desk. After a long hour, he was unable to fall asleep. He was bent over and his hands supported his head. He stared at his inkwell, an unfinished letter, he grabbed it and burned it with the fire of a candle. His eyes closed trying to meditate, but they widened when he heard the cries of the little humandrill.
Mihawk looked out on his balcony and noticed how in the vicinity of the castle, Kaylee was totally soaked, running after the cub while pointing one of her pistols at him. Without giving much importance to the matter, he sat down at his desk again, but when he heard the sound of a bullet hitting the stone, he decided to go down, when he opened the front door the small animal rushed to him and took refuge between his legs.
"Hey!" He raised his voice more disgusted than before.
She stopped and smiled sweetly at him; in that state she believed he was her prince after all. She lifted her makeshift gown to the height of her soft thigh gleaming human-like skin, darker and with warm color variations. After tucking her pistol into her leg belt, she released her sheet dress and approached him while formally greeting invisible people.
"I need to go to my chambers; the thermal bath is there." Immediately, with a blush on her cheeks and lowering her voice, she asked him: "Will you accompany me?"
His blinking was very slow, he simply observed her in silence and left her there, after a few moments the sound of a door closing violently was heard in the distance, the humandril hid on the ground floor of the castle.
She picked up small flowers that grew on the edge of the staircase and entered the entrance steps delicately, believing that each one of them emitted a unique and harmonic noise. Like a piano.
Once inside she ran to her room and after a long bath, she washed the sheets and hung them up. She dressed in a long shirt, pants and long boots. She walked to Mihawk's room and knocked on the door.
"Don't bother," he spoke from inside.
"Oh," she frowned. "Sir, do you have a problem with me? Have I caused you any inconvenience?"
His eyes showed surprise, he got up quickly from his bed. It sounded like she was back to normal, he looked at the knob thoughtfully and after hearing an impatient huff from her, he opened the door.
"Mermaid, by what right are you getting angry?"
"Why do you insist on calling me a mermaid?" She cocked her head to the side. "Do you not dare to speak to me by name?"
"Dare?" He sighed. She sounded like her but he wasn't sure. He rested his hand on the frame of his door. "Trust me, I'm already exhausted from hearing you talk nonsense."
"You are afraid of saying my name and recognize me as a woman."
He silenced as a heat arose from his chest, he could not believe he was hearing those words, his eyes were fixed on hers. He clenched his fists and jaw; she was smiling provocatively as if she knew something he didn't. He felt the oxygen being taken from him, his heart pounding. Was it her?
"Kaylee," he finally spoke in a much huskier voice, pronouncing her name almost painfully, craving.
"Yes, that's my name, but no. You must call me 'Your Majesty'... or 'Empress Kaylee'."
"What?" His expression changed as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown at his face.
"My Prince, won't you say my name without my honorifics?"
He closed the door to his room leaving her alone in the hall. It was definitely not her.
Sunset was approaching. The sun's rays accentuated the reddish colors of her long, wavy hair. She was bored inside her room, after taking off the bandage from her head she had decorated her hair with some flowers she had collected, neither she knew what other songs to hum. As she left her room, the aroma of fruits reached her nose, she followed it finally entering into the kitchen, she picked up an apple and bit it carefully.
"Ha! Not poisoned. It tastes great! The fruits of the fairies are beautiful and delicious."
"Guh?" The little animal leaned into the kitchen.
"W-What are you?"
She opened her eyes in horror, she couldn't believe that beast was there. She was not with her whistle or with her weapons. She could only think on throwing the apple at him.
"Aah!" She screamed, scared. "Help!"
The mandrill began to cry loudly, he did not understand why she still didn't recognize him. Kaylee ducked herself into a corner, covered her ears in horror and crouched down.
The cries of the little humandrill were terrifying her. After a few moments the noise became similar to the screams and laughs of some humans, she did not remember whose but they caused her more and more despair; had she been lucid she would have remembered that it was the laughter of the pirates responsible for the kidnapping of her mother.
Mihawk, had finally fallen asleep, the songs that Kaylee had hummed from her room had been helpful, however, that new scandal opened his tired eyes. He sat on his bed and breathed deeply, he was not even covered, his shirt was a little open and his dagger rested on his back, he slid his hand from his forehead to the nape of his neck.
His gaze turned cold...
"Enough."
The little humandrill stopped suddenly, Kaylee raised her head suspiciously and felt her arm being held tightly. She was frightened, but could not mutter a single word, at the same moment, the mermaid was lifted up to the swordsman's shoulder by her waist and was carried into the room she occupied. She was speechless, concerned with the sensation she perceived from the man who was enraged, and she did not know what she had done wrong, her eyes closed in fear. He left her at the door of her room. "Go to your bed" She listened and began to breathe with difficulty, her head began to hurt again, she approached the edge of her bed and, believing that he was no longer there, made a move to escape. In that fleeting moment, he turned around and she sat on the mattress, as she heard his footsteps approaching, she lay down and covered her legs with the sheets. Mihawk walked to the edge of her bed and glared at her.
"Stop moving," he said in a low voice, with no strength left to yell at her.
Kaylee opened her eyes, her head ached, all traces of light began to fade into the darkness. A deafening noise was heard in her ears, then a silence that seemed eternal. The voice that spoke to her seemed an imperceptible echo. She got up from the bed but fell to the floor. She lost consciousness for a few seconds, Mihawk didn't understand what was happening.
She opened her eyes.
The little humandrill was no longer in her arms, she was on a cold floor, however, she did not feel that she was awake, it was strange, she did not recognize the voice that was talking to her. She couldn't be anywhere but a nightmare it was definitely one of those stormy memories.
"No! No! Get away from me!" She shouted, covering her face with her arms. "I killed you! You are already dead! You can't hurt me!"
"Ah?" He recoiled in shock; something was wrong.
"I won't allow you to come near me, even if you are only an illusion!" She kept shouting and pointed at him with her index finger, "I will not fall again, you are a despicable human. You were never part of my crew. Because of you I separated the Blind Pirates who were my friends! Because of you it is so difficult to trust men! Because of you and those pirates who kidnapped my mother that I fear to form ties with humans! I feel I've failed my father… I still can't find her." Her eyes let out tears. "What were you after? Why did you want to betray me? What did I do to you? Captain Mask loved you! I loved you all very much! Why did you do something so despicable to me, so vile?... Answer!"
"Hear me!" He tried to speak to her, still surprised with her words.
"No! I don't want to hear you! ... You'll see! The Blind Pirates will reborn. I will be able to change and fulfill the promise I made to my father. My mother waits for me in the New World!" She raised her voice again and wiped away the tears that came from her eyes with her fist. "I will find her! I have not lost my hopes, I must get stronger…" She stood up with all her might and took her revolver from nearby. "If I must kill you again. So be it!"
He stepped back to avoid the almost certain impact of the bullet, drew his dagger and deflected others. He rushed towards her and struggled to take her weapon from her, they both fell to the ground but she got up quickly. She lunged at him to hit him with the back of her firearm, without much difficulty stopped her blow with one hand. She tried to free herself but he was stronger than her, Mihawk pushed her to the side and got up without letting go of her wrist. He snatched her revolver from her and threw it away.
They were standing, he saw that she directed the fist of her free hand to his face, he dodged, despite this, he noticed that it was only a trickery because her real intention was to hit him with her knee on his lower stomach. Upon impact he clenched his jaw and released her.
He noticed that she was about to run after her firearm. Before she was out of reach, he stopped her from her shirt and grabbed her by her shoulders pushing her back onto her bed. He sat over her to restrain her. Despairing to the depths of her soul and filled with rage she continued to struggle.
"Stay away from me! Don't touch me!"
"I'm not going to hurt you! It's enough, Kaylee! It's me!"
Kaylee fell silent, she didn't see anything, she heard nothing but a loud ringing in her ears. She had heard that voice before and began to lose consciousness again. In the other hand, he tried to compose himself and covered her with the sheets and blankets, then he sat on the edge of the bed watching her restlessly. After a few minutes, he reached out and touched her forehead, at the contact her eyelids opened slightly. "What is he doing in my dreams?" asked the thoughts of that blind mermaid. She rose her head from the pillow and with her hands grasped the collar of his shirt, pulling him down until she felt his warm nose.
The sun hid, letting the darkness reign.
"Swordsman, can I trust you?" She asked in an enticing voice. It seemed that they were looking at each other, she brought one of her hands to his face and caressed it.
He lowered his gaze, speechless. His heart was beating fast, each beat more painful than the last, his blood seemed to boil. He didn't know if it was the result of their brief confrontation or if it was that situation. He backed out and tried to separate her from him, she showed a heartbroken expression and kissed his cheek reaching the corner of his lips. In this way, he lost his balance and the weight of his body rested on her, feeling her warm body and the soft heartbeat under her chest. Slowly she extended her delicate arms and hugged his neck, after a mournful exhalation she fell deeply asleep.
Mihawk remained in that position for a few moments, rather than waiting for her to be totally asleep, he was driven by the peacefulness he felt. Not even his dreams had been able to replicate such closeness. Her scent had something sweet and subtle, similar to caramel. With every breath he felt that at any moment she would vanish.
Her words echoed in his thoughts "You are afraid of saying my name and recognize me as a woman."
He allowed his body to move, the desire to feel her closer led one of his arms to move under her, hugging her figure. At the same time, he lowered his head until hiding it in the gap between her neck and her shoulder, feeling with his face her tender and warm skin. He placed his lips on the crook of her neck and closed his eyes, relaxed his shoulders and solely concentrated on feeling. Her breathing was very soft and calming. It had been a long time since he shared the human warmth of someone, one that could bring him so much serenity.
They breathed calmly, harmonized with the night wind.
He opened his eyes and backed out a little so as to not be a weight over her. Her arms released the embrace on his neck and rested on her chest.
He looked at her hair, it was slightly humid. He leaned on one arm and brought his hand to her head, caressing it while brushing her hair away from her face. He approached his fingers to the hair on the bed and felt its softness; its undulations. She still had a couple of small wildflowers on it, he took a deep breath as he took one. He observed her, while he slowly analyzed her facial features, he couldn't help stopping at her lips, he separated his letting out a painful sigh. He remembered how she touched them when she felt the features of his face. His hand tightened into a fist crushing the little flower. His once calm face darkened indifferently.
That reality was also a dream.
"Why would you want to trust me?" He asked in an inaudible murmur and getting up from the bed, "I don't trust me, much less I would trust you."
Upon awakening Kaylee realized that she was covered. She heard the sound of birds outside the window. She stretched a bit and got out of the comfortable bed; this caught her attention. Because she didn't usually sleep like that, much less dressed from head to toe.
It was almost twelve o'clock, the swordsman took a bottle of wine from his cupboard, examined it carefully; It was from the vineyards of Micqueot Island, in the New World, the last that remained of that vineyard. As it was a bit dusty, he blew over it and shook off all traces of abandonment. He heard some steps behind him and lying the bottle in another direction he saw in its reflection his particular guest, when he turned around, he looked at her pitifully.
"What are you doing here?"
"Don't you think it would be nicer to say 'Good morning'?... I only came to the kitchen because I'm thirsty... I haven't had alcohol, right?... Do you happen to know where I left my revolver?" She asked worriedly. "As you might know Mihawk, it would be dangerous for little humandrill to..."
"Did you say my name?" He interrupted her.
"Yes... why does it startle you?"
When he uncorked his bottle, he briefly told her what had happened regarding her period of memory loss as to not say hallucinations thus, omitting details that might embarrass her; like the fact that she called him 'my prince'.
"Really strange, sound like a confused state?" She repeated in bewilderment.
"Exactly… How far back does your last memory go?" He asked, staring into space, hiding all traces of guilt.
Her eyes widened in surprise. The memory brought her to a moment of despair, suffering and consolation ... She began to feel uncomfortable and turned, hiding her face. That was not the last thing she remembered.
"T-The last thing I remember is having the little humandrill in my arms… during the storm."
"I see…"
Even standing a few meters from him, she could clearly feel the predominant aroma of the wine, it made her calm down a bit and smile. She moved towards him and rested her hand on his bare forearm. Another memory penetrated her head like an arrow.
"And the little humandrill?" She asked in a low but audible tone.
"It's here in the castle..." and he emphasized coldly as he separated from her, "and I hope you'll leave soon with that."
"I'll go for sure... When I manage to change the humandrills, it is not my intention to contaminate them with your lack of empathy," she replied, annoyed.
"Woah, it's really you. You're the same again," he replied after taking a long sip of his wine. "It would have been better If you had just lost your memory."
"Why? Just so you know, not remembering anything is not pleasant!" She said, raising the volume of her voice. "Agh! No! Have I already started talking like this? You don't let my spirit settle." Kaylee decided to leave and Mihawk stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Ha, you have no idea..."
"Oh! It looks like I was going to stumble over this, thank you." She felt the wall in front of her and taking his hand away from her she continued on her way. "Excuse me."
"The first time you mentioned your past, I assumed you wouldn't tell me the whole truth. After all, someone who wears a mask is not someone who trust others." He lowered his head and raised his eyebrows. "And sure enough, you omitted much of the truth… Not to say that you lied to me."
"Excuse me?" She asked softly. Her eyes were wide with concern, she frowned and turned around relaxing her gaze, demanding that he explained himself. "What are you talking about?"
"What would your father say if he found out that you went to the seas because you wanted to 'get out of the routine'... You must find your mother, don't you? And most importantly," Mihawk approached her with a cruel attitude. "The fear that you manifested before me was not because of my ability to slaughter, nor my title, nor my sword... But because I was a man, am I wrong? Killing that traitor did not hel..."
"Shut up!" She yelled, interrupting him. "You ... Despicable! How is it possible?!" She asked herself, turning pale, she couldn't understand anything, anger invaded her. "Apparently, I spoke more than I should. However, you could have turned a deaf ear. You can't imagine how much… I hate to remember that!"
"How to believe someone like that?" He asked, approaching angrily.
"Yes, I wonder how I have managed to trust someone I hardly know?!" Tears were about to escape from her absent eyes. "I don't know anything but your name, that you are part of the Ouka Shichibukai, however, for me that was… enough."
"..." He couldn't utter a word and his eyes widened in surprise. "Do you trust me?"
"You can't understand it, can you?" She expressed with resignation.
"What do you know about what I understand or not?" He replied with a harsh look.
"Ha! just listen to yourself... If there's anything that cuts more than your sword, it's your own words." Her chest ached. "So, what do you not understand?... For example, could you reveal to me what kind of 'skill' or 'technique' makes Monkey D. Luffy the next generation's golden child?"
Hearing no responses, she said she would give him time to think while she went out for a walk. The windows let in the warm light of dawn illuminating her smiling and victorious face.
After hearing the entrance door to the castle opening. He drank what was left of his glass of wine, like her, the answer seemed to get farther and farther away and the questions began to multiply. He frowned and went after her.
The little humandrill accompanied Kaylee with joy, the day was quiet; the air and the sky gave it a very pleasant atmosphere. She arrived, after a long walk, to the ruins of the Island, no mandrills were heard nearby. A smell of wood reached her nose, she approached little by little to the origin of that essence and stopped.
"Ahh, now I understand the reason for the tranquility of the humandrills, Mhihihi," she laughed. "Well, Hawkeyes, do you have an answer?"
"No ... I'll let fate act so I can find out," he admitted with a slight smile.
"I knew you wouldn't answer," she said, closing her eyes tenderly. "And it is not necessary for me to know your story, but rather a part of your heart. By the way! This tree…?"
"It was once a tree, but I turned it into a memorial tomb for those who died in this place as a result of the war that took place here," he revealed with a certain indolence.
"Wars are a reflection of how our world is today," she asserted, her expression pained.
"At the current rate, I wouldn't be surprised if there is another one soon."
After Crocodile's defeat a meeting of Shichibukais took place, curiosity led him to attend and the name of Blackbeard as a candidate took on a new weight... Shanks had also informed him about Fire fist Ace and the revenge that he was planning against that pirate. Added to that Ace was someone related to Luffy and Whitebeard. What the future held was uncertain, but definitely dangerous.
It is both actions and the dreams of many that allow history to be written and, consequently, the chaos that was evidently coming. With a young man like Monkey D. Luffy, fate was a universe of probabilities.
"Uhh uh." The little humandrill walked away from her, running excitedly in the direction of some bushes.
"Where are you going?" Kaylee asked, but as she did, she heard something hit the humandrill and throw it in the opposite direction.
Very loud screams were heard in the distance, humandrills with weapons and swords were approaching.
"What is happening?" She asked in consternation. The little humandrill ran to her, screeching in despair.
A humandrill jumped out of the trees, it was an unusual size, very wide and tall. He was fully armed and protected. Kaylee carried her firearms with her, when the big mammal saw that she took her flintlock, he decided to attack her, she anticipated his movements and shot to his eye with great precision, the great humandrill fell to the ground dead.
Kaylee hugged the humandrill, feeling ready to fight.
"Go back to the Castle, they won't get near there," Mihawk ordered. "They are approaching, apparently they need another lesson."
"I don't understand, didn't you scare them?" She wondered.
"Do you remember that time you asked me why I drew my sword?... By seeing you with me lately, they think I have softened," he chuckled. "Fools."
Kaylee hugged the small animal in her arms and walked quickly in the direction of the castle, though she didn't get very far when a group of Humandrills approached her. Instantly, a greenish beam of light passed near her, it was a slash that the swordsman sent. She drew her firearm again and fired at the animals surrounding her, the shots were not only accurate, the bullets came out with impressive speed. The humandrills got scared, so they communicated with each other and decided to attack Kaylee in a group, they approached with great rapidity, Mihawk rushed towards her; his expression was impatient. And apparently it was more for the blind woman than for the wild animals.
"You couldn't be more troublesome," the swordsman said, approaching the mermaid. He thrust his sword Kokuto Yoru into the ground and all the cobblestones around him were lifted off the ground.
When the humandrills saw the scene, they froze for a few seconds and ran far away terrified... The little humandrill jumped out of Kaylee's embrace and hugged Mihawk's leg.
"Tell your little animal to get away from me… Now," he ordered angrily as he put away his sword.
"Come on, don't bother the grumpy old geezer," she said between light laughs, the swordsman glared at her. "Just kidding!"
"Well... it seems you have earned their respect." He saw her putting away her firearm. "When I fought against you, when you were Captain Mask, I had noticed a slight mastery of haki. But now I've seen you surprisingly control it."
"With haki I can see at will whenever I need it in fights. It is very useful," she smiled proudly and with satisfaction. "For that reason, my blind cane continues to be my greatest guide when walking."
"I'm not just talking about your observation haki." He looked at her seriously. "You control a haki that you extend towards your firearms and the bullets you fire. It is usual in the use of weapons such as swords, but it seems that you had not even realized that you had such an ability."
"The armor haki... You won't believe it, but I've never been able to use it on my body, just as an extension of it."
"You are definitely stronger than you appear."
One night, some days after that incident, the stars shone with energy, it was as if the sky wanted to be the protagonist, as if it were warning the world of a great event. The breeze of air was almost nonexistent, just silence. Dracule Mihawk, with a glass of wine in his hand, gazed at the starry sky through the large window of his room. He needed to know something, to know what answer that mysterious woman could give him to his doubts. Being speechless in the face of a seemingly easy question was still something that was intriguing him, even more than the secrets that the stars could hold.
He put his glass down on the table of his dresser and went down the stairs with a faster speed than usual. Kaylee was near the fireplace, petting the little humandrill. She turned to her host and smiled slightly, lowering her head.
"Are you willing to listen to me?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
She opened her eyes in surprise and a slight blush ran across her cheeks. She answered affirmatively. Mihawk sat down beside her, the sleepy humandrill between them. He asked her if she knew anything about the former pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro, to which Kaylee said she knew only the general rumors. Upon learning this, Mihawk related their brief fight and everything he knew about The Straw Hats. Kaylee listened attentively, felt part of the story and as such was able to extend her opinion beyond the superficial.
"From how you describe Roronoa Zoro, I wouldn't be surprised if he asked you for some advice with the sword," she said with a warm expression.
"What? That's a crazy idea, wahahaha," he said, resting his hand on his chin and changing to an incredulous expression. "There is no possibility of that happening. Don't make me laugh. He has the ambition to be the best swordsman in the world, why would he even ask for my help?"
"You say it because you still haven't opened up to see beyond people, to their hearts. He promised his Captain that he will never lose… Behind that supposed ambition to become the best swordsman there is something stronger" Kaylee smiled and took his hand. "Men like him would only choose to throw away their pride when it is for the sake of someone else."
"Impressive words." Mihawk smiled back, pausing a moment to see her hand in his. It was warm. He added in a low voice, "But I doubt… that could be possible."
"It's not my job to convince you. Let fate give you the answer as you so much say." She separated her hand and sighed. "I finally came up with a name."
"For whom?"
"For the humandrill, I'll call him Petit. I know, maybe it's not very original, but it sounds cute."
"..." He raised an eyebrow and looked at her with some coldness. "Don't get attached to that animal..."
"In theory, I already did with a hawk" she thought, laughing to herself.
"By the way, I have decided to take the most peaceful humandrills with me. Enough time has passed and I can already tell them apart. I hope I can find a place on this island for their relocation."
"What do you want to achieve?"
"To find light after so much darkness..."
To be continue…