Hello everyone,

we continue with the next chapter.

Thank you, Mizuki hikari and Anana16 for your lovely comments and all the other ones following this story.

Today we will find out what happened to our little Lady Zoro ;-)

Sharry

Chapter 15 – Pictures

-Mihawk-

Left! Right!

Breathe!

Yes, that was actually not a bad idea to do meanwhile.

Stop!

Furious he paused his running. Furious at himself.

He exhaled slowly.

Mihawk stood in the middle of Sasaki's woods. For more than half an hour he followed anfractuous paths into the depths of the island. For more than half an hour he was furious about those worries bothering him.

Not so long ago he had travelled the Grand Line, had been bored by the world and its diseases, had not even been looking for a meaning anymore.

At that time, he had been far ahead of his age, because nothing had been able to bother him anymore. Nothing had been able to move him anymore. One look at the newspaper had been enough for him to know, how the world would develop within the next years. Because he had already seen enough for his next ten lives.

The world had not been able to offer him anything anymore, had not been able to surprise him anymore.

At least he did believe that.

And suddenly Roronoa Zoro showed up. Out of nothing the arrogant green head showed up in the weakest ocean of the world. He did not expect to meet such a talent in the East Blue. He did not expect to find such a rare diamond.

But it had not been the talent of the young boy, not his swordskills that awoken him, that ripped apart the walls of his world.

No, it had been the other one's mindset that fanned the dying flame in his heart. His point of view towards himself and towards the art of the sword. This boy of the East Blue had been the first living being he met, who understood his position without them ever meeting before, leave alone talking about it.

In that very second, when that child had turned around, wide open arms, smiling widely, respectful and daring at the same time, that was the moment, when he had been freed from his chains of rationality.

Like somebody had taken away a filter from his inner eye, suddenly he had been able to see the world in color again, filled with a shining green of hope. Hope for a future.

And suddenly there was something, someone, unpredictable in his life. All constants in his life had been moved in this second, by the shining light of one single child.

He had visited the East Blue due to an uninteresting order, allowed this boring work to interrupt his boring life. Not even worth to feel bothered by it, but not even killing his boredom as well.

But when he had left the East Blue, he had been changed into a new man, like he had been reborn in this encounter with the swordsman of the strawhats, which could not be even called a real fight.

Since that day his world was back in colors, his heart was filled with fire again.

He breathed again, he lived again.

Just because of one boy who understood the soul of the swordfight without probably even knowing it existed.

Mihawk himself had not realized that time, what the boy had changed within him. He had ignored all those little signs, had ignored the growing hope, trust and faith he put into that child.

He had relied on that child to continue to grow until the boy would be strong enough to defeat him one day.

And then this bastard decided to die!

The only one, who maybe could have been able to understand him, who maybe could have defeated him, simply died and left him behind in this sallow world.

It was even worse than before, because now he knew how life could taste.

But before he could drown in his self-pity of loneliness, this girl had shown up. This girl, whose body he could kill with his pinky, but whose will he could never break.

This girl was Roronoa.

This girl awakened that spark again, raged the fire within him, making it impossible for those flames to ever die out again.

After he met Roronoa in the East Blue he had been able to see colors, now he was able to paint them as well.

This child, wise and naïve at the same time, changed something within him, without even noticing it. Had awoken him from years of sleep. Had freed him from his cold chains. Had freed those emotions buried deep inside his soul.

Had given him something he could not simply take.

Had taken something he never wanted to have: his loneliness.

Mihawk was not alone anymore in this world.

He had lost so much, given up so much, let go of so much. His sister, his crew, his friends.

The only thing, this goddamn world had given to him was this annoying boy.

The boy, who would probably be the only one, who could ever understand him.

He did not know due what miracle or curse Roronoa appeared in his life after his own death. But he knew if Roronoa would not have shown up, he would still be caught within his loneliness. With nothing more than his desperate hope that one day someone could beat him, that one day he might have one last good fight.

This reason made it all too simple for him.

He would protect Roronoa Zoro.

He would not let go of what the other one had given him and he would not allow losing the other one.

One day this boy of the East Blue would be able to claim his title, he was more than certain of this and until then he would guard him.

He would protect this worthy dream of the other one.

No one may steal his future!

Slowly he understood what his redhaired friend had tried to explain him so many years ago.

Just now he was able to see what this reckless drunkard had known for so many years already.

Those thoughts raised his mind. Good thoughts, clear thoughts.

Mihawk had finally ordered his emotions. He understood now why he acted the way he did.

But he did not think of his behavior as appropriate.

Emotions there or not. If he was not able to stay cool-minded, he would give away his sharpest blade, his mind.

So he exhaled again and looked around.

The path to the beach had been deserted. No footprints or other signs of recent visitors.

The cliffs, where a well-trained sailor might be able to dock, were untouched as well, the nature undisturbed.

So he searched the woods. Silently he rushed down between moss and roots, none of his elegant steps making any noise.

He did not call for the other one, not drawing any attention at himself in case the culprit was around.

The most worrying thing however was that he could feel nobody in this forest. Someone, who could be strong enough to take down – even the female – Roronoa, could not be too weak for him to notice. Not even mentioning that he could not sense his disciple as well.

He never paid attention to this before, but had he ever been able to sense the other one's presence?

That time in the East Blue certainly, but after his death? Mihawk was not sure about this; after all he had always noticed these stinging eyes.

He ignored those thoughts and crept catlike through the underwood.

Not much time could have passed since he started searching, but with every step his certainty grew that the other one had left the island already, no matter how.

His inner eye lost sight of the green light of hope.

Suddenly a loud growl reverberated through the forest.

He stopped with shocked eyes.

Well, that was it with his catlike behavior.

He already lectured himself for not taking at least the time to eat something before leaving. Except for the cup of coffee the morning of the day before, he had not been eating or drinking anything yet.

And now his body passed the bill.

"Wow, that's loud. Luffy, it's you?"

He jumped around.

A girl in a beautiful red dress, black jacket, and pony tailed hair stumbled on the hidden path, looking like nothing happened.

"Where do you come from?" He asked shoked.

"That was you? Oh gosh, that could've…"

"What happened?" He interrupted the unimportant babbling of his disciple, crossing the short distance between them. The pirate looked utterly confused.

"What should have happened? I'm just on my way, picking up some stuff for Kanan."
Unbelieving he stared down at the other one.

"But that had been four hours ago!" He did not understand anything.

"Yeah, I know. Kanan really sucks at giving directions." The other murmured annoyed.

Relief rushed threw his body and cast the adrenaline aside, while he took of his hat and ruffled through his hair, headshaking.

"So you're about to tell me that you were able to get lost on the only possible way from the mansion to the village?"

Mad the woman in front of him put hands and the hips, a quite feminine pose, he noted.

"I didn't get lost. Like I said, It's Kanan's…"
"You only have to go straight ahead, Roronoa! What's so difficult about it? I don't believe it!" He tried to calm his breath, inhaling slowly. "Do you have any idea about how worried Kanan is? She thought you got abducted or even worse."
"What?" His tomboy laughed amused. "Why should someone kidnap me? They wouldn't last three seconds against me."

Still headshaking the Shichibukai leaned against a tree, this ignorant arrogance paired with childish naivety was too much for him.

"You're really killing me." His stomach grumbled for another time like an upcoming thunderstorm.

"Just because of your lack of orientation I've spent hours running aimlessly through the woods."

"Well, at least I found you."
"You found me?!" Angered he turned around.

"Here you go." An unusual soft smile caressed the lips of the cursed pirate, who offered him a fairy tale res apple.

The image of the fruit was enough for his stomach to raise its voce again. Furious he tried to silence his traitor.

"Just take it, best swordsman in the world." He was not sure, if the other one tried to be respectful or was just making fun of him. But his hunger was taking the better of him, so he took the offered apple and took a bite. Never before had an apple tasted this great.

"Thanks." He murmured in the voice of flaming.

"Sure." The younger one answered, still grinning.

"What is it with your good mood? You spent hours useless in the woods, should you not be even more annoyed?" He asked in between two bites.

"Why did you visit Suzuno?" The other one asked, ignoring his question, already on his way to get lost again within the forest.

"Where do you think you're going? The mansion is that way."

He grabbed the other one's shoulder and showed at the other direction.

Dismissive those green eyes looked at him.

"Would you please be so kind to answer my question?" He said in his best educated voice. "And I told you that I have to get Kanan's stuff at the village."

With a loud bang the leftovers of the apple slammed against a close tree, piercing through it like a canon ball and ripping two other ones apart. All three caught trees were hovering dangerously before finally collapsing. The earth quivered for a moment as those three giants went down.

For the first time he could see something like surprise on those childish features and finally the other one kept his mouth shut. But it was not like he was happy about it; after all he had been the one being emotional, again.

But at least his tomboy was paying attention now.

"And would you be so kind to listen to me? It's unbelievable I have to tell you this over and over again, I am not your father, understand?!" The rage within his voice was enough to silence any upcoming responde.

"First: The village is to the west, so you're still heading for the wrong direction. Second: I asked you a question, before you did, so stick up to your own words, before lecturing me. And third… Damn it. I'm so annoyed right now, I even forgot what I was going to say."

He was deadly serious and not up for any jokes, but even he could not hinder grinning, as the shocked pirate's face changed into laughter.

"Come on. Let's go." He grabbed the other one's arm and shoved him towards the village, making sure not to lose him again. The other one was not fighting him but trying to keep up with his pace.

"Well, I had an appointment at Suzuno's base. What about you?"

-Zoro-

They did not even need ten minutes to reach the village and Zoro kind of wondered how he had been able to spend more than four hours in a forest, smaller than a warship. But the day was nice, heated by the first air of summer and although he was tired of last night's training, he enjoyed the feeling of his body, every aching muscle, every breath told him he was becoming stronger. He loved that feeling. This last training had moved him forward without him scolding his own body for being weak. He was grateful. Since he left Sarue he was finally making progress.

While his little feet tried to keep up with the Shichibukai's long legs they were talking about the past days and about those things ahead of them, the three weeks left. Their voices were calm, their moods better, they got along.

As they reached the first houses, they were already greeted by busy townspeople, working adults, running children, loud animals and other noises filled the streets. Sale men and women yelled their puffery while others enjoyed their lunch break in the sun.

The small fountain in the middle of the market place had been repaired and laughing kids in wet clothes jumped in between water jets, worried mothers following them with huge towels.

For another time Zoro noted those odd looks they got, but now he was certain, they were directed towards him. Feeling queasy he put a loose hair-strand behind his ear.

He didn't feel hostility, but still there was something like judgment in those hushed whispers.

"It seems like you have become quite popular." The Shichibukai at his side suggested and hid his grin under the shadow of his hat.

"What do you mean?" He asked confused and looked up.

"You are not found of reading the newspaper, are you?" The other one responded without expecting an answer. "Another negligence you should abandon. It is no mistake to know what moves the world."

For another time he tried to interrupt the other one, failing.

"If you had, you might had noticed that during the last two days the newspapers had been filled with pictures of you." The older one continued unimpressed.

"What?" This could not be true. The other one was obviously making fun of him. Why for heaven's sake should someone want to make pictures of him and print them in some papers?
"Why?"

Hawk Eyes shrugged his shoulders, as they continued their way down a small ally at the side of the market towards one lonely store.

"I would assume your presentation at the assembly caught some attention. Not only your unexpected interruption, but your appearance at the side of the major's wife as well was a moment to remember. Not many dare what you did in presence of such important personalities."

Slowly Zoro remembered something old Banri had said about the newspaper, but he had not spent a second thought about it. Except for wanted posters he didn't care for pictures of him.

"Of course a pretty, unknown face, surrounded by the influential, high society like Eizen, and being accompanied by one of the seven Shichibukais at the same time, awakes curiosity. This is why they documented our small visit at Sarue in every single detail and filled with many pictures. It appears the news try to stir the people's attention towards something safe and light to gossip about, like an innocent girl showing up with some brutal pirate. Quite the distraction, don't you agree?"

"Oh great." Zoro murmured as they reached the small shop and went in.

It was already worth enough that he barely cope with this new body, no, now all the idiots reading the newspaper were about to follow him in this struggle. What did he do to deserve this?

"Welcome Mr. Dracule." A raspy, but friendly voice filled the air, coming from the shop owner, who was already bend by age, and stood behind the counter. His eyes grew big as he saw Zoro.

"Oh, my Lady Loreen." He exclaimed happily. "You are alright. Kanan had called several times and I was deeply worried." Showing great signs of relief he rushed over to Zoro and took his little hands. "I'd never forgive myself, if something would have happen to a young lady like you just because disordered some goods."

Zoro was surprised to be greeted by so much worry and warmness by a stranger, a man, who did not really need to care about what could have happened to him – not that anything did happen or would happen. But he could kind of imagine that no one would like to antagonize Kanan and even less Hawk Eyes. After everybody had seen them together in the papers, it was not really a guessing that the villagefolks would have made up their own truths. He lived in the mansion of the one Swordsman, whose ancestor populated those islands and was shown around by him, who usually did not spend more time than necessary at his home. Of course the people could put two and two together.

Thinking about it he had to admit, he was either the long lost daughter or the newest sweetheart. This thought was almost enough to make him throw up.

Few minutes and a call to the mansion later they left the little store. Except for a little basket filled with flowers Zoro was carrying nothing at all. Being a damn well gentleman it seemed inappropriate for Mihawk to share some of the stuff, but shouldering all of it on his own. Observing the Shichibukai form the side he kind of wondered how Kanan would have expected him to carry all of that. In his own body it would have been no problem, but as a fragile girl… what had she been thinking?

Meanwhile the midday sun had become powerful enough to heat the air like summer, so he took of his black jacket and put it over the basket. In calm steps they were walking back and this time Zoro saw them as well. Hidden behind newspapers and sunglasses, or glaring shameless at them all out: reporter, six or seven in total.

"What do they want?" He murmured in a low voice so only the Shichibukai could hear his words and laughed.

"Taking pictures. That's their job."

"Yeah, but why so many of them?" He thought he could hear those cameras clicking without even seeing them.

"One of the press headquarters is at the Sabaody Archipelago, accordingly we always have many of them here and like I said you made them curious" The voice of his company was calm, but he could feel the other one's annoyance.

In this moment a mourning voice broke through the village.

Close to the spring was a little boy with short, violet curls, cowering at the ground and bawling heartbreaking. Oh well, or nerve-racking in his mind.

But all eyes were on that kid, who did not stop crying.

After a moment Mihawk sighed frustrated.

"I hate crying children." He murmured overly pitted. "They are so annoying."
Zoro could only agree. He never understood why mini-men needed to cry all the time. On the other side he was maybe not the one to judge if he thought about the last days.

By now the two swordsmen were the only way continuing their way, everybody else stared at the boy, who seemed to be in his own world.

"Could someone please silence him?" The Shichibukai mourned, even more histrionic than before. "Do something, Roronoa! I'm getting a headache."

"What do you want me to do? Killing a little boy, so you don't get a headache?" He hissed back.

"Whatever. As long as he's silent."

On their way the odd couple had to pass directly in between the spring and the bawling boy, who was still sitting their miserable and nobody around coming for aid.

"Hold you noise, loon!" Hawk Eyes barked t the boy and starred him down with his haunting eyes. For a moment the cub actually stopped crying and simply looked back, but than his face twisted into an ugly grimace and he bawled even louder.

He sighed. "Good job, Mr. Dracule." He meant ironically.

The surrounding people looked at them wary. What did he do to deserve this?

With another sigh he walked around his host and stopped with folded arms in front of the boy.

"But he's right, you know. Men shouldn't cry." He said calm and cold.

Now the boy starred at him, seemed less scared, now that a woman was talking to him.

"Bu… but…" He tried to respond while sobbing.

Zoro did not wait for him to finally finish his sentence, but raised his free hand.

"If you want to say something, stand up and tell me. Bawling on the ground won't get you anywhere."

He sighed again as the boy tried to stop his tears. At least he was trying. Slowly he shook his head, this boy was just like Chopper, damn it, he was missing his little doctor. He bend a little and offered the boy his free hand.

"Come on. Stand up!"

After a second the kid grabbed his hand with his snottiest fingers and pulled himself up. When he was finally standing, he sniffed back his snort for another time and was even giving him a small grin.

"Good, and now tell me, what happened."
Secretly he whipped his strangely wet hand at his jacket.

The boy was getting ready to talk, as a loud voice made the whole market place flinch.

"Kon! What are you doing here?"

A woman with violet curls just like the boy, in a tight black dress, was running towards them.

"Mom!" The boy yelled and jumped into her arms, babbling something ununderstandable, only interrupted by a sudden hick-up.

"Houran, the mayor's secretary." Mihawk mumbled surprised, while shoving some of his boxes from one arm onto the other one. "I was not aware she already got children."

Said woman scolded her son for his wimpy behavior. Then she noticed the two swordsmen, grabbed her child's wrist and pulled him over to them.

Only a few steps in front of them she stopped and bowed deeply, making it hard to not stare down at her plunging neckline, even for Zoro.

"I would like to excuse myself for all the inconvenience my son caused you, Mr. Dracule." She turned for the pirate, bowing even deeper. "And I am grateful for your kindness, Lady Loreen. My son hurt himself while playing, but of course this is no reason to cry. I am sorry it took me time to come here, but I am still at work."

Zoro shook his head and pinned his eyes at those curls instead of further down.

"All is fine. I hope those wounds are bearable."

"Of course they are. Kon, say thank you."

Immediately the boy bent down.

"Thank you."

Both of them bid their farewell and left, the swordsmen continued on their way.

"Was really strange." Zoro mumbled.

"Indeed, but I am certain you got some pretty pictures."
The pirate turned around at the impudent words of the Shichibukai, who grinned evil between his boxes.

"Wait a sec. Did you do this on purpose? This annoying complaining? So I'd take care of the brat?"

Mihawk continued walking and grinning.

"I got no clue what you could mean, Lady Loreen."

"Fuck of!"

Laughing loudly the Shichibukai went on. "Language." He laughed.

The whole way back the girl was cursing worse than any sailor, while the tall man hummed at himself in peace.

Back at the mansion they were greeted by a hysterical Kanan, who jumped at Zoro and hugged him like she never wanted to let him go again, almost crushing him at her motherly bosom, and crying loudly.

The three residents spent the next hour in the kitchen. Kanan took care of the goods and going on about how glad she was, Zoro was safe and sound. Hawk Eyes read the newspaper and ignored the two women completely. Especially because the pirate was overly loud as well, complaining while scanning through all the newspapers of the last days and staring at multiple pictures and articles of himself, mostly talking about his style in clothing and his relationship with the Shichibukai. But the newspaper had already named him with a well-known title: Lady Loreen

At some point the Shichibukai interrupted the other one's rant and offered him another training session.

On their way down the hallway the housekeeper followed them.

"Sir, there was a call while you were gone, from Suzuno, it was about…"

"Ignore it, Kanan. I have no time left for that."

So their next lesson started.