Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or have created this story.
It's been 8 months since all the members of the Straw Hats had begun their training, in those 8 months each one has gotten far stronger or gathered new information, but they were all improving nonetheless. The swordsman and navigator were no exception to this, although there have been a few complications made at this time. It was never Kuma's intention for the two of the Straw Hats to meet together, so as bizarre as it may seem, it seems as though fate wishes to play a role with these two crewmembers.
"Honestly, I can't believe that Mihawk had sent me back out to search for that ungrateful green-haired brute in the rain! Damn him and his sense of direction! Now... where could he be?" Perona asked as she aimlessly floated around. Shortly after she had arrived at the castle, Mihawk had immediately asked about his young pupil's whereabouts. When he got no reply, he merely sighed and ordered her to go find him. Just as she was about to go out and retrieve the swordsman, it had begun to rain so she had to go to her room to get her umbrella.
"Now if I were a useless green-haired swordsman where would I be?" Perona wondered as she floated to an open area. She was luckily void of any contact with any monkeys, then again, she was in her ghost form so they probably couldn't have touched her anyway, could the rain even touch her? She was half tempted to test that theory.
She stopped momentarily in front of an old beat-up stone cottage. Given the rainy predicament the island was in, she assumed that the sorry bastard was at the very least smart enough to look for cover. Then again it was Zoro she was talking about, the man would train nonstop no matter what the circumstances, so much so that even Mihawk would have to step in to tell him to rest. She remembered how he belittled her for getting sick one time and dared to call her weak.
He got a double dose of Negative Hollows for that, served him right! She giggled lightly at the memory, that was a sight she wouldn't ever forget.
She approached the stone cottage and hoped that the lazy brute was in here so she could finally go back to her warm cozy room. Seriously, he was anything but adorable and charming, she wondered if a man like him has ever even been with a woman. Laughing lightly to herself, she stuck her head through and looked inside.
...
...
...
..." WHO THE HELL IS THIS WOMAN?!?!?!"
It was a nostalgic feeling to be woken up from a woman's screeching, although it was usually the fault of the companion next to him, it seemed as though it wasn't her doing this time. The moment he heard the scream he had already placed his hand on his katana's handle, ready to slice whatever humandrill he encountered. Though when he saw Perona's stupefied face, he realized the problem.
"Who the hell...huh? Wait...you're that girl from Thriller Bark aren't you!" He heard Nami say in a slightly hoarse voice, the effects of waking up taking their toll on her. He sighed in relief when he realized he didn't have to slice anything and resheathed his blade. Though he then began to wonder how they would act, two annoying women who would never shut up about anything were now meeting face to face and as far as he knew, they didn't end on good terms.
The dread began to kick in as he realized he was going to have to deal with these two for god knows how long, but maybe their dislike for each other could be used in his favor...
"ZORO!!!" he heard them both shout at once, putting a halt to his train of thought.
"What the hell do you two want?" he irritably asked.
"You moron, I explained to your...acquaintance here how I got here and have a connection with you. Falling from the sky is hard to believe so I asked you to confirm my story but it seems as though you were too busy being lost in your thoughts, " Nami said.
"Whatever, but yeah she really did fall from the sky, screaming like some batshit crazy lunatic, " Zoro sneered. Nami in her usual persona didn't take too kindly to this and promptly gave his head a large bump.
"I was falling to my death!! And you did a half-assed job of catching me anyway, " Nami countered, rubbing her fist, 8 months without knocking some sense into her crewmates had made her rusty, either that or Zoro trained his head physically. She wouldn't be surprised to be honest.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, Zoro. Mihawk sent me here to drag your sorry ass back to the castle. But what do we do about your friend?"
"Leave her." -WHAM!!-
"LIKE HELL I'M STAYING HERE!!" Nami seethed.
"Nngh... Well, I suppose she can come with us. Though it'll be a pain to explain all this to Mihawk."
"Hold on a second, Mihawk? As in the Mihawk? The World's greatest swordsman?! He's on THIS island?!"
"Yes. Now if you're done praising him, I suggest we head back now. He's probably already pissed as it is and seeing as how we're returning with one more person, I don't know how he'll react.
Nami gulped.
"Well, off we go, " Zoro said as he began to walk ahead.
"Zoro, " they both called.
"What? We can't waste any time you know."
"You're going the wrong way."
"Hah?! Nami, you don't even know where the castle is!"
"I know but I figured you were headed the wrong way, " she sneered.
"Why you...!"
"Alright alright, that's enough out of you two, you can catch up when we reach the castle. Now follow me! Hororororo!"
'Creepy laugh' they both thought.
They had finally arrived at the castle and as expected, Mihawk was eloquently displeased when they had said Nami was going to stay with them. He had shot them down multiple times but eventually agreed when Nami had proposed she could punish Zoro when he messes up his training. Something he didn't get to have a say in and not looking forward to at all.
"Damn Witch..." he grumbled as he carried her stuff to his room. The castle had 3 bedrooms which were all occupied by the previously 3 residents. Perona had offered to share her room with Nami but she had quickly declined her offer, thinking that Perona had some "weird shit" in her room.
So they settled on his room, just his luck.
"By the way, I'm getting the bed I hope you realize, " Nami said suddenly. To her, it seemed like it was obvious, but to Zoro, he looked at her like she had just said she wanted to work for Arlong again.
"What the hell?! This was my room way before you arrived! Why the hell would you have my bed?!" Zoro practically screamed.
"Ohhhh Zoro~ you aren't seriously so much of a brute to make a fragile woman like me sleep on the floor would you now~?" Nami said as she pouted.
"You're anything but fragile Witch, but if you're too scared to sleep on the floor then that's fine, I have no issues, " Zoro jabbed, trying to get a rise out of her.
"I'm not scared! Though now that you mention it, this castle does seem pretty old, I wouldn't be surprised if rats and bugs were crawling about, " Nami said with distaste.
"I keep my home nice and tidy thank you very much, " Mihawk said from below, obvious irritation laced in his voice.
"A-ha ha, right! I can see that you like to keep your house nice and clean, I can't see a smudge of dirt anywhere! ...Seriously, I thought only his swords were sharp but his ears too?" Nami said much more quietly.
"A swordsman must be alert at all times, navigator girl, " he answered once more, shutting her up completely.
She remained quiet until they arrived at Zoro's room, though Nami began to grow weary of how sharp Mihawk's ears were.
"Well, this is my room, go ahead and set up or whatever, I'm going to sleep, " Zoro announced as he sat down by a wall and began to drift off.
"If you plan on going to sleep without even telling where I am right now then your debt is going to go past even Luffy's bounty."
"Grrr..." Zoro growled as he very reluctantly opened his eyes.
"You're smart enough to figure that out by yourself aren't you Witch?" He snarled back.
"Intelligence doesn't have anything to do with this, thank you very much. What I meant was that I have no idea what this island is, does it even have a name?"
"Beats me, if you're so curious, just ask Mihawk," Zoro said casually.
"Are you crazy? He's a warlord of the sea on top of being the world's greatest swordsman! He can probably hear us even in our room too with those sharp ears of his..."
"Well then I'm afraid I can't help you, goodnight," Zoro said as he closed his eyes once more. He expected her to keep going, though he would ignore her anyway. Except she didn't and it made Zoro a little wary of what she could've been planning.
He opened one eye just a bit, but it was enough to see the shit-eating grin plastered on her face.
"Hnnnn~ well then, if you can't tell me anything about the island. I suppose I just have to drag you around for a survey of it.
It was preposterous, Nami really is a Witch! Though Zoro was not faltered, instead he returned her gesture of the shit-eating grin.
"Afraid I can't Nami, I plan to train tomorrow with Mihawk. So either you search the island yourself or-"
There was a knock on their door.
"Roronoa, I have forgotten to inform you that I have a meeting with the World Government tomorrow. Training will be continued the day after. Goodnight," Mihawk interrupted.
Zoro was stunned. So stunned in fact, he didn't even notice Nami's grin widen. Besides since when did Mihawk care about the World Government's meetings?!
"W-well that still doesn't guarantee I can't train Witch," Zoro grumbled out. The hell was he stuttering for?!
"Hmmm, okay~," Nami said sweetly, so much so that Zoro grew worried.
"Be sure to explain my death to the others when you reunite!"
"Oi!"
"That is...if you can even find your way to them,"
"Damn you...!"
"Well, I suppose it's time to hit the sack right Zoro? I've got a long day ahead of me! I just hope those monkeys don't come after me...I don't know if I'll be able to defend myself! And maybe some other dangers will go after me-, "
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ENOUGH ALREADY!! ...I'll, explore the island with you tomorrow," Zoro muttered grumpily.
"Awwww I appreciate Zoro! Now sleep so I don't have to try so hard to wake you up tomorrow, goodnight!" Nami said as she plopped herself on the bed. Shortly after Zoro heard her move around before staying still.
'Guess she must've fallen asleep' Zoro thought as he soon began to hear soft snores.
'Well, make yourself home I guess Nami.' as he soon drifted off himself.
A/N: Phew, finally a story that isn't too long and sufficiently enjoyable to read, at least in my opinion. It seems that I struggle to make a good story that isn't less than 5k words, although even then I still find them mediocre. In case you didn't know, I rarely update my stories nowadays so don't be expecting a new chapter anytime soon. Although I may surprise you guys one day, but don't get your hopes up! All grammar mistakes belong to me, goodbye.