The grass smoothed out underneath my bare feet as I walked along the hillside, the hazy clouds above keeping me shaded from the dwindling sunlight. I'd still be inside quietly studying if not for hearing the birds call in the distance from some disturbance.

It was that knowing chill running down my spine that tore my focus away from my books. It urged me to figure out what had happened. The humandrills kept to themselves and the other threats on the island were far and few between to create such a thunder.

My brows creased at what could have come to our dilapidated island. Despite the dismissive reply I got from Master over the transponder snail, who seemed to care not about the state of his island and more about the coming execution, I decided to have a look myself.

I kept my wrist casually on the hilt of my sword as I came over the peak of a hill and to the supposed site of impact. Near the center of the peak was a large paw-print in the ground and a man in its center.

I glanced back and forth, looking for the creature that must've made its mark on the ground and squashed this man or any other similar marks to show where it had gone but came up empty. It was like both had appeared out of nowhere which only added to my confusion. I took a second to bemuse my friend's sudden entrance into my life and wondered if they were a part of similar circumstances.

Carefully making my way towards the man did nothing to rouse him and, as I grew closer, I came to notice the blood smeared on his body and clothes. It appeared days old but the racket was barely an hour ago. Things weren't adding up.

An old, ugly scar crossed his chest and three swords lay haphazardly underneath him. I hesitated at the edge of the large pit in which he lay unconscious as some pieces came together.

That's the swordsman he spoke about.

Shaking my head at the improbable thought, I jumped into the pit and advanced quietly with my sheathed sword in hand. This could be an elaborate attack. If word got to the wrong people about this being Master's home, thousands of his challengers would flock here. This could be the beginning of a headache for both of us.

However, prodding his side and arms did nothing to wake him and for lack of better phrasing, he appeared to have breathed his last. I hoped whatever death befell him was quick and that whatever brought it had left our shores.

I glanced back and forth, musing if it was the trouble to bury him or leave his body out for the animals. "But that still leaves his swords…" I murmured quietly to myself, tapping on my bottom lip in thought. "It's not like Master or I need new ones. I suppose there's no trouble leaving it here…"

A stray breeze blew past my left ear before a small white ghost came into view, sticking a pink tongue out at me. I rolled my eyes and shooed the Hollow away with my sword sheath as its creator neared. "Horo, horo, horo! Aren't you nosy?" The pink-haired princess giggled as she floated into view, covering her mouth as she gasped. "Well, isn't this a surprise? I'm pretty sure that's-"

"I don't care who it is or what it is, Perona. You have an affinity for dead things. Have fun with it."

. . .

I find he's truly alive a few days later after being dutifully nursed by Perona, whose original intention was to make herself a new friend. He still looks a sight, being covered head to toe in bandages while running through the castle looking for his swords that Perona had "hid" as well as running from the woman herself. It's irritating and distracting.

I tell Master no more than three times that he should let me get rid of both of them at once. He waves the notion off and advises me to take the time to practice my Haki instead before hanging up again.

The swordsman and I nearly cross paths as I leave the dining room, forcing me to make use of the old passages and trick doors to get around him as I feel his light closing in. I do my best to ignore his shouts about moving hallways and rooms swapping places when the door clicks in place behind me.

It doesn't take long to learn he's a directionless idiot as I keep an eye on his whereabouts, feeling his presence coming and go as he passes through the same corridor multiple times a day. My opinion is only solidified when Perona floats past, gliding on her back next to me as I hide in the library.

"I had to take a nap! He's just not making it fun anymore. I even told him where I had hidden his weapons, twice!" She holds two fingers up to my face before pouting and huffing like a child, crossing her arms over her chest. "I thought you had to be at least a little smart to make it that far on the Grand Line."

I worry about the eventual tantrum she'll have with how she behaves. My life is now one exhausting torment after another. She does circles in the air and rests on her stomach, supporting her head with her palms and looking at me for sympathy as she bats her long eyelashes.

"If you want him to move faster, use one of your little Hollows as a guide for him." I counter from my spot on top of one of the bookshelves, one hand on the hilt of my sword, Rakurai, and the other on a sharpening stone. With the door locked, I had hoped that I could ensure one place where I didn't have to deal with him. Though now I realize that wouldn't limit my interactions with the ghost woman.

"Better yet, you could've left him in the wilderness to die. It seemed like he was nearly there." Tossing the stone aside, I sidle down the ladder at the top of the bookshelf, resting my back against the rungs. "Or you could guide him to his weapons yourself. That would get him out of here sooner."

"Well, of course, that would get him out sooner but then my fun would be over!" She sticks her tongue out at me. "And then I'd be stuck with you sulking about all the time. It's not like things will get any better either once Mihawk returns." Perona rights herself in the air, floating closer and reaching out as if to touch my face. "Oh, if only you'd let me make you cute, then we would have all the fun in the world! We could do each other's makeup and go shopping for new outfits and find all sorts of cute creatures. I could be like your big sister-!"

"That's enough, Perona." I snap, shooting a side-eye to her as I bare my teeth. It does well to scare her hands away and she goes back to her childish pout. She puts some distance between the two of us.

"First, I know our ideas of 'cute' differ greatly. Second, I still can't believe you're older than me when you act like this. And, third, I can't believe Master is just letting him roam about like this! I told him how dangerous this all is but he won't listen! He's just so-" I scream and slam my fist on the bookshelf behind me, rattling several books onto the floor. Huffing, I jump down and begin to clean up my mess, turning my shoulder to her. "Just get him out of here and let me know when you do. I can bet that none of us have time for him."

There's an indignant sound made behind me, originating from Perona's throat, but she doesn't go further than that. Our arguments typically end in stalemates with one of us stomping off, more often than not her, and this one seems no different. At least I know I'm right this time and won't have to hear it from her later.

The sooner the swordsman goes, the better. I just want life to go back to normal already.