Hello everyone,

this little chapter contains one of my favorite scenes (I simply love to let those two swordsmen suffer)

Thank you, baronnis for your comment and everybody else for viewing, favoring and following.

enjoy ;)

Chapter 10 – Dispute

-Zoro-

Carefully he observed the crowd, while different people raised their voices in a commercial conversation. Jiroushin sat close to the Shichibukai, only few chairs between them, right next to his bald, female mayor, who stood up in that moment to state her opinion with hard words and short sentences. The rear admiral offered a polite facial expression, but he seemed to be slightly enraged, in the contrary to the Shichibukai who appeared more bored than anything else.

Zoro could agree to that expression. Maybe it would have been better to go to that ladies brunch, instead of sitting here for hours and listening to dull speeches of old men.

Wait a second! No, he preferred this dreary talk about fish over women babbling and chatting, while braiding each other's hair. Maybe if he tried, he was able to sleep with open eyes, which would be a good idea to use this otherwise waste of time.

Just in this moment an upcoming riot caught his attention. Several people at the round table in front of him were standing, their voices growing louder and trying to overcome the other ones.

"… no solution. We discussed that matter the last time already." A young man in a perfectly fitting suit gnarled, knocking at the table multiple times.

Mayor Mifa interrupted him roughly.

"Just because you are not capable of agonizing about it, it is not impossible."

The only other woman at the table, sitting directly next to the world noble, stood up calm and everyone else got quiet. Her dark, big eyes laid on the documents she was holding.

"According to our contracts I cannot see a legally allowed possibility to constrain our partners furthermore. The contractual agreements are irrevocable."

Now the conversation was getting heated, with people talking even louder and also angrier than before. The only one at the table remaining totally silent was Hawk Eyes, who looked almost like he was sleeping, clear disinterest in his face. The mayor at his side meanwhile decided to retread out of the useless quarrel, a rational discussion seemed impossible by now.

"What's the problem?" Zoro asked the woman next to him.

She sighed heavily.

"It is a well-known problem we are deliberating for years now. Because we are so close to the Sabaody Archipelago and the World Government, it is only natural that our economy is quite strong and influential, but it is simple to influence us as well. Therefore the World Government controls our factories unbelievable strict, in this way they can keep track of the whole world economy, by constraining and forging our system. The Sabaody Archipelago on the other side offers us most of our trading-partners. But because law is…" She paused for a second before she continued whispering. "Because the law at the Archipelago is different to anywhere else in the world, we are the ones double bonded."

Zoro was still not really getting what the problem was about.

"Why?" He simply asked. It sounded like those islands here were those of big power in the world. There were worse problems than this, no economy for example, starving human, wars.

"The World Government forbids any support of illegal companies, but if we do not continue to work with those from the Archipelago and stop offering them our goods, our economical power would decrease around 80%. But they use for their production process mainly slaves, because it is much cheaper. As long as we buy their products, we are supporting slavery, which is forbidden anywhere else in the world. We are caught in a vicious circle." She murmured depressed.

"Until now we tried to keep our trading-partners from using slaves due to contractual agreements, but like I said, law does not apply to them, so we cannot even go against them at court, if they ignore those constrains. In the end we are the ones, who lose."

Zoro was still confused about it. He had no clue about economy and trading and such stuff, but he was also not understanding, why people would buy stuff, they actually would not want.

"So, why don't you just buy the products you need somewhere else? You could still sell stu… goods to the Sabaody Archipelago, which is not a crime, is it? But you would simply get your products from legal companies with no illegal slavery, even if it's a little bit more expensive, but at least you don't have to worry about the World Government."

The mayor's wife stared at him with wide open eyes. He knew he had no clue about that stuff, especially not about politics, economy or law so why had he opened his damn mouth? Hawk Eyes did tell him to be careful. He did tell him to remain quiet and just watch instead of saying something embarrassing. Yeah, Zoro was really good in this, apparently.

So instead of paying his debt to the other swordsman by behaving properly, he just showed Mrs. Koumyou how ignorant and stupid he was. Great!

The woman in her green dress stood up. This was getting even better now, what was she planning to do?

"What a fabulous idea!"

Suddenly it was silent, when she raised her voice. Everyone stared at her, even the man with the fishbowl. Okay, it could not get any worse than this.

"Mrs. Koumyou. Do you, as an observer, want to participate at this conversation?" The almost dead moderator asked cynical from the other side of the table. But the woman did not even bother.

"This young lady here next to me offered in plain words a possible solution to our problem. While we were trying to solve unnecessary riddles of legal terminology, she just opened up a straight way no one was able to see before."

Everyone was staring at him. Well, it did become worse.

What had he done?

He hardly understood what this woman was talking about. He felt cold and hot at the same time. He did not know what she was talking about. He was not even sure he understood the real problem of those islands.

"So maybe the young lady would be kind enough to initiate us into her idea?" The fossil with sunglasses asked with an even colder voice.

Zoro shook his head fast and harsh, a little bit panicking at the unexpected attention, some men behind him laughed, but stopped suddenly. Zoro could feel the cold stare of the Shichibukai. But to his surprise the woman next to him, smiled and remained standing.

"As you can see, Lady Loreen here is too well educated to talk in front of such an outstanding personality as you are. Please, allow me to explain the thoughts of this young Miss."

All eyes went back to the old man, who turned to the world noble. After more than a few seconds fishbowl nodded slightly before returning to regard his finger nails.

The moderator nodded as well.

"Very well. You may now enlighten us all with that bright idea of this young lady."

With big steps the woman in the green dress stepped forward to the round table and bowed briefly.

"Thank you very much. The young lady is named Lady Loreen, by the way. You might want to remember it. In its simplicity this idea is genius. You will agree in a few seconds." And then she started talking.

The speech, she told, had nothing in common with the plain words, he said thoughtless and multiple terms were unknown for him. But suddenly the only thing he realized were those striking, yellow eyes looking at him.

-Mihawk-

He froze, when Koumyou Seira got up and placed all attention upon the cursed pirate. What did this ignorant child do this time? Just with half an ear he listened to the minutes lasting speech of that woman while he regarded his tomboy.

What had he taken into this house?

His worries were interrupted by sudden applause and he looked up to the mayor's wife, who smiled self-confident. One of the older company directors got up.

"This is thoughtless nonsense. It appears to me that neither you nor that young lady have detailed knowledge about the complexity of a company. We cannot simply change our trading-partners and additional charges are not easily made. If you in…"
He interrupted himself after the moderator waved at him, but the attacked woman replied directly.

"Of course this idea has to be elaborated, there was no time yet to do so, but I assume this idea is easier in its implementation than anything else you proposed so far."

"Enough."

The monotone voice of the old man brought dreadful silence.

"I have heard enough, you may sit now."

The director smiled evil, but Mrs. Koumyou went back to her chair with a high chin.

Eizen waited to speak again until she was seated and turned to Miss Rihaku, who was sitting silent next to the celestial dragon and looked like she just waited for a painter to draw her.

"Please review all contracts and the trading-law, if a realization of this unconventional idea is possibly without giving our partners the chance to go to court."

She nodded simply. Satisfied the moderator folded his hands.

"Fine, we will close this discussion for now. You will be informed about the outcome as soon as we receive any result .Now, we may continue with the next item of the agenda."

The director got up again: "This discussion is not settled yet!"

The old man smiled ice-cold.

"It is. Next topic: Connecting the five, big islands, Sasaki, Sadao, Suzono, Sarue and Suzuki with a sea train. Cost-benefit equation."

The tense atmosphere loosened up quickly and Mihawk's attention drowned just as fast, but deeper than before, his eyes still fixed at his tomboy.

"Witty and smart."

"Pardon me?" He turned to the mayor, who smiled at him.

"Your guest. She might be quite young and certainly naïve, but she comprehends it well with her open and ingenious mindset. Truly a fascinating young woman and a good catch I assume." The older one murmured and padded his forearm.

"What do you mean?" Mihawk asked too quick and almost loud enough, to be heard by the others. "I am not… we are not…" he stumbled and felt the blood rushing into his head.

"No worries. Just take good care of you guest. Here are many greedy eyes just waiting to snatch this rose away from you and if you continue to look at her like that, she might even welcome it."
"I do not understand what you want to insist…"

Koumyou leant against his ear. "Mihawk, we both know, that this girl is important to you, the way you watch over her. But if you continue to treat her like you do right now, she will leave you behind. Women like to be treated like ladies."

"Excuse me?" His chair fell down as he jumped up. Everyone stared at him.

"Mr. Dracule. You would like to add something?" The moderator asked him politely.

Luckily Jiroushin was getting up as well, before Mihawk could even guess, what kind of conversation he was interrupting.

"I agree with Mr. Dracule and appreciate his strong point. This concept does not function on long term. Please keep in mind those generations following ours. Shall they suffer because of our craving for luxury?"

The rear admiral continued talking, taking all the attention and giving Mihawk the possibility to lift up his chair again and to sit down, diving out of the political talk.

The mayor to his left hid his smile behind folded hands.

"It is not what you mean!" The Shichibkuai hissed silently.

"I know, I know, that is, what they always say." The mayor answered calm.

"Seriously! We are not talking about a typical woman, I would need to – or want to - impress. Who told you this nonsense?"

The elderly shrugged his shoulders.

"Our dear Mr. Cho likes to talk a lot. But listen, my boy, just because a lady says she does not want to be wooed, it does not mean that this is actually the truth. This only means they have thorns as well. "

For long their private conversation had left the meeting. He shook his head and looked down to the girl, who listened alert to the whispering Mrs. Koumyou and watched the active talker seriously.

"Even if…" He finally sighed. "I will be left behind no matter what."

He was certain about this. After all the other on was searching for his friends, his family and he was nothing more than the nanny…

The assembly lasted several hours, before the moderator with his sunglasses was told by the silent celestial dragon to put an end to it, even though they were in the middle of a discussion about some tax raisings. The most powerful man of the room left within seconds, before anybody else was even ready to get up.

Surprisingly many businessmen turned towards him. Mihawk thought, they would stay away, but some of them were truly grateful for his intervention during the discussion, he did not even remember.

The mayor at his side mired him into countless more or less interesting conversations, more than happy to have a Shichibukai with him. They took long to make it through the crowd.

"It appears our ladies became good friends." The mayor teased and pointed forward. Just in this moment a soft laughter lightened the crowded room and dark conversations about money and power died out slowly.

In the middle of a group of people, surrounded by dozens of businessmen, was the young woman in that dark-blue dress with an innocent smile, shaking hands with a man with glasses who continued to talk. The girl answered silently, calming the surrounding people even more. The rude, former pirate hunter seemed to have an impressive effect at the outrageous snobs.

With big steps Mihawk walked his way through them, shoving them aside. The closer he got the better he could hear the voice of his guest.

"…makes me really happy. There is still so much that I need to learn, but I really appreciate your praise."

"Loreen."

Some looked up surprised, others mad, because he pushed himself into their little, happy round. After all, as a pirate he was not welcomed by them in the end. Not matter if Shichibukai or not.

"Mihawk!" He was greeted by the cursed pirate almost too friendly for it to be real. The young one placed a small hand on his forearm; he was getting really good in this act.

"May I introduce to you? Mr. Souzin, mayor from Sarue."
The man with the glasses offered him a shivering hand. His already grayish hair and the small eyes gave him something serious.

"Your wife is indeed exceptional, Mr. Dracule."

He grabbed the hand of the other man a hint too strong, the woman at his side laughed simply, higher than usually.

"No, this is a misunderstanding, Mr. Souzin. I am…" The pirate stopped bewildered.

"My companion and you are right, truly special."

Mrs. Koumyou added to the conversation. "Shoun, you should invite those two to Sarue sometime."

The mayor nodded: "What a good idea of you, Seira."

"Get me out. My feet are dying." The cursed pirate whispered quietly, so only Mihawk could hear him. He nodded slightly with a hidden grin.

"You should visit the annual ball as well." The man with glassed added while the other mayor with the Viking braids came next to him and padded his shoulder.

"This was a good meeting, with a lot of progress."

"Indeed."

The crowd parted at once, when Rishou Eizen spoke. His dark suit and his lightproof glasses were like magnets. All eyes were on him.

"You impressed me, Mrs. Koumyou. Eloquent and diplomatic. I hope the politic stage might see more of you in near future."

The praised person bowed deeply in gratitude, biting her lips however to hinder a snappy answer.

The moderator then put his attention on the unexpected center of the general meeting.

"You impressed me as well, young lady. It appears Mrs. Koumyou was right about you. Lady Loreen. Truly a name to remember. With an incredible presence of mind and quick-witted you saw what all of us missed. I am interested in your story, my dear. Unfortunately I am missing the time today to listen to it, but I assume there will be another opportunity certainly."

He nodded sharply as a sign of respect, before turning to the Shichibukai.

"At first I could not understand, why you wanted to attend this year and even in company. I admit in all honesty that I underestimated you. You are indeed a worthy successor for your father and it is appreciated that you came back to the way of justice due to the title as a Shichibukai." He nodded again. "I will take my leave now."

He left without giving anyone the chance to answer. A moment they were all quiet.

"So, my dear Mr. Dracule. Would you and Lady Loreen like to accompany us to dinner? We will be staying here over night and return to Sasaki tomorrow." Mrs. Koumyou was the first to talk.

Mihawk could still feel the child's hand at his forearm, could feel how the other one tried to take some weight off his hurting feet. With a hidden grin he shook his head.

"Thank you very much for this invitation, but it would be better for us to return right away. Tomorrow awaits us with a more than enough work."

The elderly couple accompanied them up to the exit and wished them farewell before heading for the city.

Mihawk on the other side helped his guest to put on his coat and then they walked slowly to the harbor.

Meanwhile they had left the other attendants of the annual meeting behind. The sky was already colored in a deep orange. They spent the whole day in this muggy room.

"My feet are killing me." The green head complained in a rough tune. Mihawk laughed softly and offered him once more his arm. To his surprise the other one took it, although no one was around to watch their act.

"I am afraid I owe you for this. You survived this horrifying day with me, thank you." He laughed again.

"Well, it wasn't too bad." The other one mumbled.

Surprised he looked down to the girl, while they walked down the shore.

"I beg your pardon? You liked spending hours of hours in this unnecessary boring discussion?"

Roronoa shook his head slightly.

"No, it's not that." But he was smiling softly.

"So what do you mean?" He asked without looking away.

"Oh, it's nothing." The child finally answered as they reached the rack.

"So why do you keep grinning like a Cheshire cat?" He insisted.

"Am not!" The girl replied. "It's just… they were nice."

Surprised he lifted an eyebrow.

"They were nice? Most people are supposed to be nice when you meet them. It is called politeness."

But the young woman just looked at the ocean.

"You want to imply that you have never encountered this sort of company?"

"I do." The pirate answered finally. "But I'm not the type of person, people like to invite for tea time, you know."

Mihawk stopped and stared at the other one. Luckily they just reached the Coffin Boat.

"Seat yourself; I will be with you in a second." He murmured flatly.

He felt miserable while loosening the hawser. The pirate's words had been merciless true despite the sarcasm. But he understood him much better now. A mother speaking only in her foreign language and an unnatural green hairstyle would be enough to be marked as the freak of a provincial village. Later becoming a pirate hunter he created the myth about the demon of the East Blue.

His plain look probably had been enough to fill people with fear. Changing sides and becoming a pirate was certainly not doing anything good for his reputation. More on the contrary, fear got accompanied by hatred and disgust. Such a person could not expect much heart from others.

But today he experienced to be treated with appreciation and respect by other people. They had been friendly and polite, even though they did not know him. It must have been strange, maybe even surreal for the pirate.

This kind of life sounded truly sad. He did grow up within a family, within the safe house of the name Dracule. After he had grown up and became strong he had chosen those disgusted views by himself. The other one never had this kind of choice.

With a soft sigh he jumped upon the small boat. Once again this boy just threw him out of his comfort zone. But faith was with him this evening. The shoes were lying around carelessly, while the young girl was sitting at the chair, legs bent and eyes closed.

Roronoa Zoro, former pirate hunter and demon of the East Blue, was asleep.

It was already dark when they finally reached Sasaki.

The dangerous pirate had slept almost through the whole journey. Only a few seconds ago he did wake up and started to put back on his shoes, grumbling like a little thunder storm. Mihawk had observed him for a long time, before he had woken up. Now he placed his attention upon the closer coming island. Still those words hunted him and he had no idea what he could answer. But also the green head did not say anything about earlier, but simply tried to put his shoes back on, failing obviously.

"Finally awake, little princess?" He asked after some more passing seconds, without looking at the other one.

"Oh, just shut it, will ya?"The pirate murmured grumpy. "The whole babbling at your meeting was just damn tiring. No surprise I fell asleep."

"And here I thought you liked the attention." He mocked the younger one, who simply continued growling, which actually sounded kind of cute, coming from this small girl. Meanwhile they reached the rack of Sasaki. Just as always he jumped over the little distance and secured his ship.

"Hasten up, Roronoa. Or do you would like to spend the night here?"

The girl was still sitting at his thrown, trying to get those shoes back on.

"Just a sec." The child murmured, but even in the dark he could see that they would spend probably eternity here. Sighing he went back on the boat, took one of those shoes and grabbed the other ones left foot. Immediately the younger one tried to pull his foot away, but Mihawk had already seen the bloody blisters. Shaking his head he stood up.

"You still have learned nothing."

Without waiting for a respond he simply picked the other one up, like the child he was.

"What are you doing? Let me down!" The girl scolded in his arms and tried to break free with harsh movements.

"Could you please behave?" Mihawk said plain and headed for the village. "There is still so much for you to learn, Roronoa."

Mad the boy at his chest folded his arms.

"What's your point?"

The village's streets were still busy. Many folks enjoyed the after-work hours in a restaurant or just relaxing outside. Some of them gave them a quick glance, but none said anything.

"I am certain the Master of your dojo told you how and why to take care of your weapon."

The pirate nodded, furrowing his forehead.

"Of course. A weapon, that's supposed to guard your life, has to be treated like this. It's important to take good care of it."
Mihawk nodded:

"I fully support that opinion. Each sword has to be treated with respect. Just as it serves you, you have to serve the sword."

He looked at the other one seriously, not slowing down his pace. "So tell me, which weapon is the most important one?"

Apparently confused his disciple tilted his head.

"The one I'm holding?"

He shook his head.

"So there is your mistake. The most important weapon is not the one you are holding but yourself!"

"That makes no sense." The green head stated even more confused.

"Just because you do not understand yet." He answered almost soft, while he continued the way.

"Listen up. Your body is your most important weapon and your most precious good. It is not only about training and toughening your body. You may take best care of your swords, but they can never replace your body. This is a lesson you still need to learn."
The pirate in his arm bristled with anger.

"All this uproar because of some little blisters? Stop making such a fuss. In my age a little bit of muscle-ache is nothing, maybe it's different for an old man like you."
Meanwhile they reached the end of the village.

"Keep talking big, Roronoa. Bus as long as you do not understand what I am trying to tell you, you will never master the art of the sword."

"Just shut up!" But the youngster was not fighting anymore and simply stared at the darkness surrounding them. In stiff silence they continued on their way into the woods. The woman in his arms was as light as a feather and if Roronoa would not look that mad, he would been truly beautiful to look at in the silent moonlight.

In front of them opened up the clearing, where he had found the other one.

"It all started here." He murmured.

"Hu?" The other one asked quite disgraceful.

"At this place I found you. Peacefully sleeping. Who would have know what kind of beast could be in this little body." He laughed softly. "And still Kanan always takes you side." He added and kept walking. The pirate did not reply but watched the clearing.

"The mayor's wife reminds me of Kanan." He whispered eventually moony.

Mihawk laughed again. "That might be, because Seira is Kanan's youngest daughter."

"Seriously? How old is Kanan?"

He shrugged his shoulders, while the big mansion showed up. "I have not the slightest idea. All I know is that she was the nanny of my mother and that her oldest daughter was already married at that time. But it does not matter. She has always been and she will probably always be."

They had almost reached the house.

"It was a good day." He said and opened the door without letting the pirate go.

"Let me down." He just ordered.

Loud laughing he ignored that order and kicked his boots of.

"Stop laughing." The child complained grumpy but at least not fighting.

He was probably surrendering to his role. At least for the moment.

It was dark in the hallway.

"Kanan seems to be absent." He stated quietly and walked patiently over the cold floor.

"Maybe she's already asleep?" The green head offered.

"No. If she were here, we would hear her by now. She is the best watchdog you can have." He shrugged his shoulders again and walked up the stairs.

"But where is she?" The green eyes shimmered in the darkness.

"Oh, such sweet concern." He mocked his tomboy, who simply bit his own lip mad.

"I assume she is guarding the cats of the Koumyou household."

With his elbow he opened the door to the guest room. Like always it was filled with the soft scent of lavender and an open window allowed some fresh air.

With a small grin he threw his companion on the bed, just like that day, where he had been drunk. But this time Roronoa did not laugh but closed his eyes in a tense motion before opening up the Broche in his hair. For a moment he observed the other one, before he went to the window and closed it. The dark glass reflected the greenhead, trying helplessly to open the zipper in his back.

He laughed softly.

"Do you need some help, Roronoa?"

"Oh, just shut up. I can do that on my own." His favorite enemy barked at him, which sounded even funnier with his soft voice. With a theatrically sigh Mihawk put his sword aside and went behind the other one. The boy tried to flee his hands, but of course failed.

"You really need to widen your vocabulary; you always try to silence me with the same words. And just for the record, I have already seen you naked and carried you more than one time."

"It's embarrassing, if you carry me like a kid or a girl. That's not what I am, got it? So just leave!"

The other one seemed even more unnerved than usually. Did he just imagine, or were those fragile shoulders shivering under his grip?

"I know, who you are, Roronoa. No worry." He answered finally with a determination he did not realize in the first moment. Something was odd right now. Was the pirate really so ashamed of being carried? Headshaking he pulled the zipper open.

"See, was it really so horri…?" He stopped. He could see some strange shimmering skin at shoulders and neck. Harsh he grabbed the end of the dress. The green haired tried again to break free, but he was faster. He grabbed the youngster at his shoulder and pulled the side of the dress aside. He used too much force, so the seam of the zipper ripped slightly.

"Take it off!" He growled. The youngster was finally able to loosen his grip and stumbled from the bed.

"Don't make such a fuss." The girl answered annoyed and held the dress up with one hand while holding unto the mirror with the other one.

"It's nothing and if…"

"Take that damn dress off!"

He could feel the anger, could feel how he was about to lose control.

"Now!"

He could not hinder his voice from trembling with darkness and hatred. He could not hinter his, still reached out, hand from shaking and he could not hinder the other one looking at him almost emotionless. After something that could be hours, Roronoa looked to the side and let go of his dress. Fluently it fell down, showed first the shoulders, followed by the chest and the upper arms. Carefully Roronoa picked at his sleeves, pulling them down, so the complete gown fell to the ground, leaving the pirate in nothing but underwear.

"Again!" He growled, starring at the other one mad.

"You simply don't understand!"

He saw the other's back in the mirror. Saw his own in anger distorted face.

But all, what he actually saw, was this fragile body of his disciple. Shoulders, arms, chest, waist, legs, no matter where he looked, everything was reddened and bloodshot. The complete skin shimmered in all different kinds of colors, from yellow to green and from blue to purple. Clearly he could see his own handprint around the other ones upper arm, where his fingernails had been pressing against the skin, it was almost black. Where the straps of the sports-bra laid usually, were deep scrapes burnt into the shoulders.

The pirate did not want to wear another dress because of its color, he realized at one go. He did not move so slowly because of those shoes and it was not his pride that fought against Mihawk's grip.

Blushing slightly Roronoa looked away.

"I know! I'm weak! It's so humiliating, but starting tomorrow I will train even harder so that…"

"Shut up!"

He had been louder than he wanted to. Surprised the other one stared at him, but he just kept shaking his head.

"I cannot train you any longer!" He said finally, much lower than before.

"What? Why?!"

The high voice of his former student was horror-stricken.

"Because you won't get it!" He screamed almost helpless. The children's eyes grew big.

"It's not about your strength or about your will to fight!"

Once again he shook his head, not capable to express, what he really wanted to say.

"I cannot train someone, who has already given himself up!"

"But, I don't want to…"
Raising his hand he interrupted the weak plea of the other one.

"Let's make this clear! I'm not talking about your will to fight. I'm talking about you! Because it's obvious that you don't attach any worth to yourself!"
Shocked the other one starred at him, mouth open.

"You're incredible strong, Roronoa. Stronger than any human at your age that I ever met, but exactly this will be your doom."

"I don't understand…"
He laughed cold:

"No, that's for certain. You simply won't get it. In your delusion to protect everyone. In your pride to bring honor. In your desperation for recognition. You cannot see it!"

For a long time he looked at that child, not allowing one single word.

"Do you remember? You thought I was mad at you, because you asked for my help and I told you, I wasn't. I lied!"

The pirate tried to say something again, but he interrupted him.

"Since that morning I'm incredible furious at you. It's almost tearing me apart, that you cannot get it. That you cannot see it and now you're so ignorant and tell me it's nothing. You just don't understand and I hate you for this!"

"What do I not understand? Why are you furious? Tell me! Tell me, why you are screaming at me!" The other one yelled back at him, but much more composed than he was. "Tell me, why you hate me!"

For a never ending second it was quiet, while they starred at each other and none of them backing down.

"Because you died!" He almost whispered.

"Because you gave up your life for others! Because you did not care for yourself!"

His voice grew louder with every single word.

"Because you don't see what you're worth! Because you're protecting everybody but yourself! Because you force me to protect you!"

For a moment his heart stopped beating.

"You don't see how much you mean to those people, your crew, Kanan, even me! It's easier for you to just give yourself up instead of asking for help. Like it would hurt your stupid pride to allow someone else to carry just a little bit of your burden. Because of your will to reach everything alone you betrayed not only everything that makes you human, no you even betrayed your friends and me!"
"I know."
Surprised he stopped his harangue of these sudden words. The pirate clenched his shaking fists.

"I know I gave up my humanity. But if it takes a beast to safe my friends, I'm more than willing to be one!"

Furious he hit the wall next to him. Plaster and dust rippled down.

"No! Damn it! The only one seeing that beast, are you!"

Enraged he messed up his hair.

"I have never talked with such an emotional cripple like you, Roronoa" He growled helpless. "Tell me, do you not want to see it or are you simply not able to?"

The pirate did not answer.

"Roronoa, why did you die for others? That day at the East Blue there was nothing more important to you than to reach your dream. Why did you give it up?"

The green eyes avoided him. Slowly the girl turned around, looking out of the window. Now it was easy to see the bruises between the shoulder blades.

"Things have changed." The green head sighed finally.

"That time I only had my dream to die for. But how much is my single dream compared to eight other great, worthy dreams?" Now he faced him. "How should I become the greatest swordsman in the world, if I'm not even able to protect my captain and my crew? They entrusted me with their lives, it didn't seem too much for me, to pay for theirs with mine." With every word the childish smile grew. "If that attitude is supposed to be my doom, so be it."

"And what about your crew?" Mihawk asked, now in a much calmer tune. "It is admirable, your strength, honestly. But did you not think one single time about the feelings of your crew, when they are not allowed to help you, to protect you? You say they trust you, but you never showed them, if you do so. You trust them enough, to take care of themselves, but apparently not enough to stand by your side. You are proud at yourself, at your strength, and one day, when you and your crew tell this story to the upcoming generation, you will be the one and only hero."

"But what about your friends? What about the people mourning over your dead right now? Who blame themselves for letting you die, for not protecting you? They cannot understand, why you did not allow them, to protect you."

Slowly the smile faded.

"Already that time at the East Blue I had to protect you. I had to give you the right to live, because you would not allow it yourself. I took this responsibility, because I am stronger than you and you respect me. A responsibility, I never wanted to choose. But I did not protect you from someone else, but just from yourself. From your own self-abandonment, because you seem to have no instinct of self preservation. Obviously you have no knowledge about how to protect yourself."

The other one squinted his eyes. Slowly Mihawk folded his arms.

"I have still no clue, what happened to you and how you ended up at this island, but now I know, why you were sent to my place."

He walked up to the other one, who looked at him with big eyes. After eternity he made his decision.

"I will continue to train you, but on one condition."

The pirate nodded, he would probably accept anything as long as it would help him on his way back to his crew.

"Until you are back at your crew's ship, back in your own body, until then I will be there."

Seriously he took the other ones forearm.

"Roronoa, let me protect you!"