Chapter 14 – Path

-Mihawk-

Headache.

Only a headache.

And he did not even know why. Actually it had been a good day. He had been up early, drank a nice cup of coffee, visited Sarue with his disciple, who apparently found out a way to become a man again. And on his way back home he talked with more people about his love-life than in the last ten years.

Well, he could have done without the last thing, but he could not change what had already happened.

Back at home Roronoa had excused himself for some hours of meditation, a method Mihawk could not fully support, but he did not mind, because after all he had been able to go to bed early, after storing away all the stuff he shopped before.

So considering all this Mihawk should be well-rested and well-minded in his office this morning.

But considering all this he simply was not. He had a headache that was bothering him more than he wanted to admit.

Early this morning a package of documents about the past assembly was delivered and because he probably would spend the next three weeks at Sasaki, it would be better to take care of those papers right away.

Suddenly a knock against the door caught his attention. Kanan was right on time, as always.

"You may come in." He called out without looking up, but continuing to read the report in his hands.

For a second nothing happened at all, and then it knocked again. Confused he looked up. Another knock, dull, like wood against wood.

In the next moment the door burst open and clashed against the wall. In the frame swayed the cursed pirate holding a fully loaded tray. Dishes clattered dangerously and it looked like he would fall any moment.

"What are you doing?" The Shichibukai yelled, rushing to the green head before he could splatter the complete coffee over the ground. With one hand he caught the tray with the other one the girl. "What are you trying to get at?"

"You're the idiot not opening the damn door! The first and last time Kanan talked me into bringing your freaking breakfast if you're even too stupid to open the door." The girl barked back, cradling out of his arm.

"And by the way, what's taking you so long? You said we'd train today. I'm ready and waiting for you for over an hour already!" The pirate continued mad.

Mihawk put the tray down at his desk.

"Calm down little frog. How am I supposed to know you wanted to train and not to meditate? Honestly I do not think too much of your training methods." He replied and filled his cup with needed coffee, offering his guest one as well.

"Actually I do have a questioning concerning yesterday."
"Told you I'm not going saying anything about it." The girl murmured, slamming the door shut and taking the cup.

"Would you please just listen?" Mihawk gnarled with pounding head. "I understand you are not allowed to explain what happened to you and how you can return to your former body, because it would hinder your path. I just want to know what burdened you so much after you talked with Banri or Toutaku." He sat down on his chair, fetching the newspaper from the tray. "That you never can wait for a second before you yell around. You should really overcome such a childish attitude."

"Oh, just shut up!" Roronoa snarled and gulped down the coffee.

Except for his mean words the pirate seemed like the innocent girl he was not. He was barefoot, wore black, tight-fitting shorts covering his knees. The long, blue shirt with three smiling suns was a little bit too large. The green hair was tamed with two cute braids, dancing around in the air.

But the pirate was right in the end. Except for some small blisters around toes and heels his wounds seemed already healed. The skin appeared smooth and soft, like it was never hurt.

"So?" The Shichibukai asked while opening the newspaper. "What burdened you?"

The green head did not answer right away, taking another sip of his coffee and refilling his cup.

"We talked a lot and he explained me all he knew." The youngster sighed deeply. "I had to revive the last minutes of my life to him."
Surprised Mihawk looked up.

"Not really funny." The girl laughed softly but the smile was too bright to be actually true. The child turned around. The voice was too happy, the eyes too open.

The Shichibukai sighed silently; the subject he broached was not an easy one.

"But that's…" His eyes followed the greenhead. The pirate had found his collection of wanted posters.

"As you can see…" Mihawk said with a little grin. "I have never forgotten our encounter."

Roronoa's image, covered in blood, grinned evil at them.

"So those memories burdened you yesterday?" He asked almost casually but not expecting an answer. Certainly it was not easy to talk about such a delicate matter with a stranger. Not easy to feel all those emotions again.

"No." The other one said plain, gazing at his own picture.

The conversation appeared to be over, so Mihawk returned to his newspaper, allowing his guest to order his emotions.

The world seemed to be quite busy, at least the newspaper was unusually thick, but none of what happened was of any importance to him. He was half-trough the articles when a strange topic caught his eye.

White is the new black

"He saved my life."
"Excuse me?" He looked up when the voice of his disciple filled the room. He did not know what the other one was talking about.

The pirate hugged himself, looking up at his picture.

"I know, I was supposed to think about my death, about the reason why I died and why I'm here now. But all I could think about were my friends."

Slowly the child turned towards the Shichibukai. Strangely serious and unexpected honest was his childish face.

"Luffy saved my life that day, without me even realizing it. And he didn't only save my life. Before I met Luffy I didn't knew how lonely I was."

Those big green eyes faced him, like Miahwk was the only one, Roronoa could tell the truth.

"They're my friends, my family. From the silent Robin to the annoying cook. Is it wrong that I want to protect them? That I don't want to lose any of them?" It was a serious question. The pirate questioned his deed, he questioned his sacrifice.

He questioned if he had done a mistake, if he acted wrong, if he should have saved his own life instead of theirs.

Roronoa, let me protect you

Mihawk stood up. He knew this expression just too well.

I beg you, spare their lives, I do whatever it takes

It only took him three steps to reach the other one. He knew this feeling just too well.

They are my friends

Carefully he placed one hand at the other one's shoulder. Once those doubts had been his own as well.

"No, I am with you. I would do whatever it took for my friends."
The girl laughed, obviously embarrassed over such emotional honesty, diving away from Mihawk's touch.

"Good for Jiroushin I guess."

Mihawk laughed, too. Felt how unsaid words filled the air between them with tension. Knew that this in between them was probably unnoticed by the youngster, but clear for him.

"We should begin the training now. I would not want you to waist any more time."

He took the cup of his guest and returned it to the tray, leaving the breakfast untouched like always. With a last glance at the picture of the article, he closed the newspaper.

"I await you downstairs in ten minutes."
But the pirate had left already.

-Zoro-

"Ha… Ah…"

"Stop whining! Again!"

Sweat dropped down at the tiles under his fingers, lonely hair strands stuck against his cheek, but he was missing the strength to wipe them away.

With shivering muscles he got back up and bit his lips, breathing heavily.

"Are we done already, Roronoa?"

He shook his head and continued.

He did not know how much time had passed. He did not know how often he had fallen down. He did not care for how long Hawk Eyes stared at him like this.

He hated how all training session seemed to go by the same principles. He hated how he struggled in his workout, almost suffocating at his own breath while the Shichibukai watched him cold, not even moving one single finger.

For hours he just stood there, leaning against the wall, staring at him.

How he would love to beat that high-up expression down from that face. Not that he was actually able to do so.

"Did I allow you to become slower? Move it!" His present object of hatred ordered.

"Wouln't… ha…hurt ya… as well." He snarled in between burning breathes.

"What did you say?"

Suddenly the other one was in front of him, pressing one hand against Zoro's already hurting throat, the other one against the wall in Zoro's back. Where did this wall come from?

All air was pushed out of his lungs. His feet swung far over the ground. Strands of hair still waved in the draft.

The Shichibukai starred down at him with the most dangerous grin he could imagine. Slowly he lifted him up higher; Zoro was helpless at his mercy.

Not even for an angry word he had any air left.

By now he was several feet above the ground, not able to do anything but to look down at the other one.

His tired hands tried to loosen the strong fingers around his neck. But it was useless, he could not move them a tiny bit.

"Oh, poor little Zoro got a problem?" The Shichibukai sounded like the devil himself.

Slowly the first shock faded away and Zoro realized that the other one was not acting through uncontrolled emotions or hurting him as a punishment. No, it was a lesson. A training for survival, for real combat, for a real opponent.

He urged himself to stay calm, his body already screaming for oxygen.

Okay, his hands were useless. The Shichibukai's hand was strong, his face too far away.

The other one held him tightly against the wall, which would not back down as well. He needed to think.

For a moment he closed his eyes, ignoring the other's comment. This was his moment.

He heard the other one starting to babble again.

Now!

His naked feet pushed off from the wall. His left leg went for the neck, the right foot for the nose.

"What are you trying to…Ah"

With all he got he bit the large hand holding him. The legs had been nothing more but a distraction, to slide his chin under the hand holding him. Luckily his female version had such a smooth skin.

The heartbeat the other one wasted to look at him surprised he used to kick his left foot against the other one's jaw. While the yellow eyes followed his foot to stop it, he slammed his left hand against the elbow and the right knee against the inside of the arm holding him.

He fell down.

Landing on all four, he pushed off from the wall behind him again and hurried through the wide standing legs of the Shichibukai.

The next moment he jumped up, turned around and lowered to his new fighting position.

Not before now he allowed himself finally to breath and could not stop the small grin on his face.

In slow-motion his teacher turned around.

An almost satisfied look in his eyes.

"Not bad. Actually quite good." The first positive words he was told since they started training.

"I mean, I knew of course what you were up to and none of it would have worked out in a real fight because you are too weak to actually loosen my grip. But you were innovative. Accepted your position quickly and searched for a possible solution. I believe this is the first time you acted appropriate to your physical condition."

Like acid the words burned the grin off his lips. Sure, he had not hoped to be capable of hurting the other one, but when the Shichibukai did let go of him, he had thought for one short moment, that he maybe could.

"I have only one question left."

The fight was not over yet, he could still feel the tension in his tired muscles.

"I certainly hoped you would take the escape opportunity I offered you. But what would you have done, if I did not spread my legs the way I did?"

He felt how those hawk eyes scanned him in detail.

"Well upwards." He said plain and for the first time the other one looked confused.

"Upwards? Did you already forget what I told you at the beginning? What would you reach upwards?"

Now he grinned again. The other one did not know what he would do, he liked that.

"Like I said, upwards." He repeated, pointing at the Shichibukai's crotch.

For a moment the other one looked at him, looking down and up again.

Suddenly he started laughing loudly, slamming his hand against his thigh.

"Not a bad idea, honestly, and even though you are a man yourself." He said still laughing.

"You said I should use what I got. I only have the weapon of a woman and the knowledge of a man where it really hurts." Zoro had no idea why the other one was laughing like this, it was not actually that funny.

"You are indeed a strange man." The Shichibukai murmured, calming down.

"Ah…" The Shichibukai inhaled and exhaled, holding his side like it hurt, but then his face became serious again.

"Very well. I am pleased. Repeat the exercise from the beginning for half an hour and that will be it for today."

"I can go longer. Come on!"

Hawk Eyes sighed, walked towards him and pausing next to him.

"First: Watch your language; this is not appropriate in this context. Second: I thought we discussed this already. Who is the teacher and who is the student? I thought we agreed on me setting the rules and deciding on how long you can last, until you are able to take proper care of yourself."

After a second Zoro nodded.

"Okay, half an hour, I got it."

"That a boy!" The other one praised him and head for the door.

"I am not a dog!" He yelled and turned around.

The Shichibukai just raised his hand.

"I picked you little stray dog up from the street, gave you food and a name. In my opinion I make a great owner."

"Fuck you!" He yelled after the closing door but only the only answer he got was a howling laughter.

"Asshole!"

It took him more than an hour to finally leave the training room. For one he was more exhausted than he would ever admit and for the other Kanan had given him new clothes, a strapless bra and a dress with only one strap.

Why?

Was it not already bad enough he actually wore dresses?

He was unable to cope the clothing, falling for like ten times, until he decided to stay down. But when he was done he actually liked the dress, it was short, a simple leggings underneath, allowing him to move his whole body freely. He almost liked it for fighting.

Scratch that, but if it was not such an embarrassing thing, he would actually like the way Kanan organized clothes for him. After all he had worn more different clothes in the last days than in his whole life before and even the navigator of the strawhats would envy him for his repertoire, he dismissed that thought swiftly.

But he was grateful that Kanan accepted to his offer. He would not cut his hair and wear whatever she gave him as long the colors pink and rose were not among.

He had already given up on short hair after Mihawk had said something about it making it easier. He would never go the easy way.

So he accepted the hairband and the brush because he had no other choice.

Picking up the flat, red shoes he walked out.

It was actually stupid to spend all his time putting clothes on. They probably spend all the day training, so he could right jump into his pajamas. It was not like he liked wearing those, but as long as he could avoid a bra, he would do so.

But in the hallway he was greeted by sunlight.

Okay, so it was no night yet, but he was hungry.

In the kitchen he met Kanan, who had not even noticed him.

"Thanks for the clothes." He said, stealing an apple and sitting down.

"Huh?" She turned around.

"Oh, good morning, Loreen. I thought you were already in bed."

"Morning?" He asked confused.

"Sure, honey. You worked all night long. I was really worried, but I stayed strong." She said slightly louder, putting down a plate with fried eggs in front of him.

While he ate, Kanan wanted to take care of his hair, but was interrupted by the load buzzing of a transponder-snail. The housekeeper followed the ringing tone into the depths of the house.

So it happened that he was eating for himself for the first time since he was a girl. How he wished for some sake. The one with the blue writing, it was the expensive one, or the one in the beige bottle from his hometown. But in the vine cellar he had not seen one single bottle of it.

He sighed deeply. He knew exactly where the sake was stored at the Thousand Sunny and even though the stupid cook was never happy whenever he took one, he never denied it to him. He remembered one night when they killed one bottle together, it had been fun. Yeah, the cook and he could actually have a good time together.

Damn it! He should stop thinking about stuff like this. It hurt more in this body, with those emotions. And he hated that he missed the cook, especially in this body, as a girl. It made him feel inferior, vulnerable. Feelings he hated.

Suddenly Kanan was back, rushing through the kitchen in a furious manner, not realizing his dull mood. Harsh she grabbed his just emptied plate and threw it in the sink. It was a miracle it did not break.

"Kanan, are you alright?" He asked, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

She turned around.

"Oh, honey." She sighed accelerating. "It is nothing."

But the way she scrubbed the embroidery from the plate and muttering under her breath told him something else.

But actually all was good now, actually he could leave now. He asked her and she answered, nobody could ask more of him. The picture of the cook flashed in front of his inner eye.

Damn, when did he become so soft?

"Are you sure?"

Mistake number one.

"Oh child. I do not want to burden you with it. I ordered some goods for tomorrow, but they arrived today and I have no time to pick them up and the lord is already on his way to Suzuno."

Suzuno…Suzuno… What was there again?

"Of course I cannot ask you to go for me. The goods would be too heavy for you and you are probably too tired to go all the way down to the village. You must be exhausted."

Was there the marine base the rear admiral worked at?

"And I believe the lord would not approve you to go all on your own. We should ask for his permission first, do you agree?"

What?!

"Kanan, of course I can pick up your stuff. No problem."

Mistake number two.

The next moment he was hugged by foamy arms.

"My sweet child, Loreen. What would I do without you? That would be such a great help. I just tell the deliveryman that you are coming."

She rushed back out of the kitchen.

"I think she framed me." He told the empty room. Cursing his sentimental thoughts and blaming the damn cook for it.

Minutes later he put on his red shoes and a black jacket. He hid the apple from earlier in his pocket.

"Are you sure you know the way?" The former nanny asked him again.

"Yes, yes. See you." He went outside, greeted by the rising sun.

It could not be so hard to find the only way to the village, could it?

Well, apparently that was his mistake number three.

-Mihawk-

He was mad. Not much, but still enough to blow up the whole base. Lucky for the navy his childhoodfriend worked there.

He came all the way, after he was asked to show up by Jirou's superiors.

He waited for more than an hour, only to be told that his appointment was moved.

He did not listen any further to the secretary but left immediately. No one dared to treat him like this! He wasted half a day with nothing and nothing and missed the last part of the training session. For nothing!

It was early afternoon, when he finally reached Sasaki's harbor.

With hasty steps he went back the well-known way, past the big and small houses, past working people and playing children, past trees and plants, past the clearing, until he face the old mansion again.

He was hungry and mad. He had no opportunity yet to read the newspaper of today and was worried it would show even more new pictures of Lady Loreen.

Slowly his headache of the last day appeared again.

Tired he opened the front door and went in.

"Loreen, sweety is it you? I was already so… oh." Kanan came from the kitchen, before he could even close the door. Her dark eyes were widened, her face pale of worry.

"Sire, it is you." She stated plain.

"Kanan." She looked worried. "What about our guest?"

Within a second he understood the situation.

His former nanny met his view serious.

"She is gone."

Slowly he took those words in. Three little words, simple in their meaning. No complicated analysis necessary. So why did it feel like he was not able to understand?

"What do you mean by gone?"

The housekeeper started crying.

"She wanted to help me." She sobbed and sniveled into a huge yellow handkerchief with blued dots.

"Calm down and tell me what happened!" He said cold.

She sobbed on.

"She wanted to pick up some goods for me by Shoun, but that was about four hours ago and she has not returned yet. I called Shoun already and Tenkai as well. Nobody has seen her in the village. I am sure something terrible happened, but I could not go searching for her, because maybe she would return to a locked door."

She wept loudly. Hundreds of thoughts rushed through his head.

Where did Roronoa go?

Apparently he did not take the path to the village, because if he did, Miahwk himself or some of the villagers would have found him. So he was not heading for the harbor.

Except for some few moments he never lost sight of the other one, there had been no time for him to arrange some great escape.

But wait, he did spent some time with this strange Banri, maybe they organized something together.

Stop! Hold it! Why would Roronoa need an escape plan? He was no prisoner, he was his guest. After all it had been the pirate who asked for his help and not vice versa. If he wanted to leave, he was free to go.

"Sire?"

Confused he looked down to the housekeeper, who tried to talk to him for a few seconds by now.

He nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You stay here, in case our guest returns."
"And what about you?"

He turned for the door.

"I shall search this child." He opened the door. "If I do not return until nightfall, call Mr. Koumyou and Jirou. But they should handle it discreetly."

Kanan nodded.

"What shall I do, if she returns?"

"Call Mr Koumyou, he should send someone for me, the island is not that big."

He rushed outside.

"Sire." She called after him. "What will you do, if you do not find her by nightfall?"
He did not even bother to turn back.

"I will find him." He hissed.

He rushed into the woods. He had only been gone for a few hours and already something happened.

Whoever dared to kidnap his disciple would not live long enough to regret it. He was certain that the culprit was still at the island. Except for the harbor there were only few, hard to dock on places. It would be smarter to wait for the dark to take their victim away.

He knew that those stupid newspaper could be dangerous for this child.

Damn! Roronoa where are you?!