Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a good weekend and I hope you'll like the upcoming chapter.

Thank you Candyqueen-sama for your lovely comment and thanks to all the ones favoring, following, and reading.

I'll try my best to keep updating and it makes me really happy that you like this story.

Sharry

Chapter 16 – Sword

-Mihawk-

"Just wait for a moment." Annoyed he followed the other one, who rushed down the hallway.

"No! We wasted enough time already!" The authoritative, female voice of his guest answered, who did not even think of pausing.

Mihawk sighed. Since he had used the word training on their way back, the other one had been caught in his tunnel vision and the cozy atmosphere of the night had been lost.

"As long as you are wearing this frock, I will not let you enter the training room."

The pirate was not even slowing down.

"Did you hear me, Roronoa? Your training will only continue after you have changed! Kanan will not appreciate you tearing this dress and I will certainly not appreciate you fighting in inappropriate clothes."

His tomboy turned around raging, the black dress dancing around his slender legs, the open hair moving like carried by the wind. With clicking steps the girl rushed towards him.

"I thought our agreement was about you training me while I'm here, not you dragging me to every damn meeting you get invited to. If I had known that, I would've never agreed to that." The green-head hissed mad at him, hands at his hip, looking very much ladylike.

"First: You asked for my help. Second:..."

"Just shut you fucking first, second. We're only wasting time." The pirate interrupted him rude.

Slowly Mihawk inhaled and exhaled, trying his best to stay calm.

"Just go and change!" He gnarled and pointed his finger up-stairs.

"You're no one to boss me around!" The woman snarled back, coming one step closer.

Thanks to the high heels the space between their angered facer was smaller than usual as they stared at each other. The tension was immense, something was about to happen.

The fire in him was raging, he was not certain he could control himself this time. How was this boy able to make him loose control without ever losing his own? Why did this boy have so much power over him?

Thereby he did not even need his pinky to kill the other one right now and here.

Unexpectedly he turned around and walked back the way they just came.

"What are you doing?" The girl hissed.

Mihawk did not answer as he reached the door and pulled his boots back on, grasping them like they were the only tools left to control himself.

"What the hell? Are you dartin' off?" The pirate's voice was slightly higher and louder than usually during their fights, but he still refused to reply.

"Mihawk!"

Slowly he stood up and turned around, staring down at his guest.

The green hair was filled with energy, the eyes wide, and the mouth still open.

"It's enough." He almost whispered. "Yesterday and this morning we had some good sessions, it was a long day. I think it will be better for us to call it a day."

"No! You told me…"

"I cannot bear your obstinacy any longer!"

Suddenly all was silent.

"What? But…"

"I am tired, Roronoa. Do whatever you want. I won't bother you with my presence tonight."

With those words he opened the door. The past nights he had slept few and bad. During daytime his head was racing, mainly because of the other one. His progress and his growing popularity and of course his chances of returning to his masculine body. The unexpected invitation by the major and his wife for dinner had added some more disturbances. But all of these more or less daily problems could not smaller his feeling that something great was about to move the world. Unfortunately he was not able to completely grasp just yet what exactly was about to happen and that worried him even more.

But instead of getting to the bottom of this dangerous unknown, he was fighting this ungrateful brat. He was too old for this.

He was too tired, for giving the other one such power. He had to calm himself, before he would use his own power.

As expected the pirate was either too surprised or too stubborn to follow, so he could leave without any further complications.

It would take him hours to realize that he had given up at that moment. That had been the first fight in ages he had lost.

-Zoro-

Zoro stood in front of the closed front door, stunned. He did not understand, what just had happened.

Hawk Eyes had really just left.

Suddenly he realized he was all alone in this huge, unknown mansion. His first thought was to follow the other one, but he already knew that he would not dare to.

Slowly he held himself. He was not used at someone fleeing from a dispute, especially not the Shichibukai. And now he was here, all those emotions raging within him. The damn cook never fled a fight, never left him out in the rain.

Fuck!

Mad at himself he stomped up the stairs, stumbling over his own feet and losing both of his shoes, before reaching the upper end. On bare feet he reached his room.

Hawk Eyes had been right, it had been a long day, a good day, a straining day.

Early, before dawn, they had started training, only the invitation for dinner being a short unimportant interruption. They had finished in the late afternoon so Kanan could have had enough time to prepare him for dinner. By now he was more or less used to this and had surrendered to her will, it was not like he could really do anything against it.

The dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Koumyou had been surprisingly nice. He had enjoyed the food and the good company of the older couple. Of course some of their topics had been annoying, especially those about the articles and pictures, but mainly they had talked about actual things happening in the great world, things interesting for him.

Their way back had been fun actually. Both swordsmen had made fun of each other, laughing a lot. But the idea of another night session had reminded him, had reminded him, why he was here, who he was and why he trained so hard.

Fuck!

Hawk Eyes was the one man he wanted to beat, whose title he was chasing. How could he have believed for only a second that they could truly be friends? They were separated by worlds and in the end even a teacher-disciple-relationship was more than they could actually offer each other. He was so mad at himself because of that.

No, he had to admit that this was not the real problem. He was mad at himself because he had begun to trust the other one, maybe even to like him.

He had forgotten.

For some hours, few hours, he had forgotten, why he was at this island, why he trained, why he fought.

He had forgotten them. His crew.

He had forgotten him. His Captain.

While he was drinking wine with strangers at candle light, talked with them, laughed with them, his friends still might be mourning over him. Were probably still hurt and vulnerable through his missing strength. And he was joking around with his greatest enemy about meaningless things.

Fuck!

For a long time he stared at his reflection, his detested reflection. The dress fell to the ground, followed by his underwear. He took off the golden necklace, the loop around his right arm, and the shimmering earrings out of his freshly pierced ears, freezing a second at his left ear.

Naked he stood in front of the mirror and hit it with all his force.

-Sanji-

He looked up at the creaking of the door.

It was already dark outside and he did not think some of the others would still be up. After all, all of them were tired and exhausted. Less of the healing wounds, but more of the additional night shifts and the dark dreams.

It was the same for him so he preferred to stay up instead of waking all guys with his screams, when he dreamed of burning or letting others burn.

To his surprise it was the young doctor who entered.

"Hey, Chopper. You're okay?" Sanji's voice sounded normal, as normal as he was able to, keeping in mind that he was not sleeping enough and smoking too much, giving all of his words some unwanted raspy edge.

The reindeer's eyes met his slightly confused, he had not even realized he was not alone in the room.

"Oh… uh…I just wanted to check what I need to buy at the next island. We're low on bandages." The youngest crewmember mumbled and tried to avoid his gaze.

"This late? It can wait until tomorrow. It's better for you to catch some sleep." Sanji replied simply and returned to his cooking book.

"Oh, the others are still up and talking, so I cannot sleep anyway."
Chopper's answer was even lower than before, as he rushed through the door of the sickroom.

The cook looked up slightly at the click of the lock, but tried to keep concentrated at his work.

The last days had been tough on him. Almost every time, when he met Luffy apart from meals, they ended up fighting.

The overly happy mood of his captain was unbearable for him. He could not understand why his friend kept his eyes closed from the truth. But each discussion, each argument was useless.

Each time he referred to what had happened, those big dark eyes of the rubber boy had simply looked at him, only until seconds later the happy grin was back on place. Luffy did not want to or was not able to realize that Zoro was dead.

Robin had already mentioned a few times that this denying could be some type of processing and that Sanji should give his Captain more time.

After all Luffy had been the last of them to hear of Zoro's death.

But Sanji could not let it go. If it only would be about him, he could have accepted it, he could have ignored his friends annoying grin. But it was not only about him.

That brainless babbling about Zoro's soon-to-be return hurt all of them, allowed none of them to grieve, to round it off. It would have been easier for them to bid farewell from their friend in some kind of reverent rite like they did with their beloved Merry. They could have put up a grave at some island or cremated the three swords, all they had left of their crewmember. But the Marimo's swords were still in-between sofa and transponder-snail, where Usopp had placed them.

Every one of them had to notice them, when entering the eating room, had to remember their loss and their Captain was not doing anything to help them.

His sight got foggy and it was impossible for him to read his writing. His concentration had been gone long ago. What should he do? What could he do?

If he did as Robin told him, Luffy's behavior would continue to hurt the other members of the crew, but how could he wake Luffy out of his daydream, without actually breaking him into pieces?

"Sanji?"
He slowly raised his head. Chopper stood in the doorframe, obviously frightened.

The blonde sighed. Just now he understood what he should have noticed earlier. It was the same thing he had been thinking about all the time.

The young doctor was not still up because of the other ones talking. He fled from the boys' room because of the topic. He was searching for shelter somewhere else and Sanji had been so caught in his own troubles that he had not been able to notice the other one's helplessness.

Usually Chopper would not search for him, but for someone else, but this someone was not anymore.

"What's wrong, Chopper?" He asked softly and put his glasses aside.

The doctor was still at the door frame and did not say a word, looking down. After a second Sanji got up and headed to the fridge.

"We still have some strawberries left, you wanna share?"

"Oh yeah!"

The cook smiled. He had no clue, how it had been the Marimo out of all of them who had been so close to their youngest member, for he always needed the help of sweets to get to their doctor.

After a second he came back with a huge bowl of sugarcoated strawberries drowned in crème and two spoons. Chopper was already expecting him at the table.

For a few minutes they enjoyed the sweet berries in mutual silence, but as the time passed, Sanji could see how those beady eyes became more and more glassy.

"So, what's up?" He reopened their talk.

The young friend simply shook his head and took another spoon of their little dessert.

"Chopper, if you're not…"
"He doesn't like strawberries."
Sanji fell silent. He knew immediately who the other one was talking about. There was only one person in this huge world he knew, who was not found of any kind of sweets.

He shook his head as well.

"No, he was never able to honor the true treasures of our world." He agreed and put one of those treasures in his mouth.

"Once he invited me to some ice-cream. It took him forever to choose something, because he didn't like anything. In the end he took mint." The reindeer's words were filled with hope, while talking about valued memories. Sanji had been unaware of this side of Zoro.

"Do you think…" Chopper mumbled without looking at him. "Is it maybe possible that Luffy is right?"

Sanji closed his tired eyes for a second. What could he answer at such a question? Who would not want to promise anything to those pleading eyes? All he wanted to do was to hug Chopper as tight as he could and promise him that the freaking Marimo would come back one day.

"Chopper…" He sighed.

"Is it really impossible," the other one asked desperate, "that Zoro could have survived? I mean, he's strong. If someone could do it, it'd be Zoro."

"Oh, Chopper…"
"And probably..." The reindeer's voice was filled with hidden tears. "He just got lost and ended up on some other ship. Maybe he's somewhere in the North Blue right now and thinks he already found the mermaid island."
Sanji put down his spoon.

"That's possible, isn't it, Sanji?" His voice broke, lonely tears ran through his fur.

The blonde bit his lip.

"No, Chopper." He hated himself right now. "No, it's not possible. Zoro's dead."

"But Luffy said…"

"Luffy was not there. He had been unconscious." He interrupted the weak reply. "Chopper, you saw it with your own eyes. You saw how he fell with the tower."

His voice got even raspier and he was craving some nicotine.

"Yes, but maybe he survived somehow. After all… they didn't find him."

This was pure desperation for some thin ray of light.

"Why don't you use your know-how, Chopper? He had an open, inflamed wound over his complete side, lost a lot of blood, probably a concussion, and countless flesh wounds, inhaled too much smoke. We're not even talking about the fire or the crumbling tower. He could barely stand, less run. Tell me, doctor, is someone, even if his name is Roronoa Zoro, able to survive something like this?"

Chopper did not answer, it was not necessary. Sanji remembered the face of the older one, saw it every night in his dreams. If Zoro had seen some way to survive, he would not have looked at him the way he did back then.

"It hurts, Chopper, I know. But to deny the truth won't do anything good."
"But Luffy…"
"Luffy isn't ready yet. He clings onto some useless hope. But he wasn't there, Chopper. He doesn't know how badly hurt Zoro had been."

The little doctor looked down, tears running over his fury cheeks.

"I just wish that he somehow did survive."

"Me, too…"

-Mihawk-

When he entered the mansion it was quiet. Dark shadows greeted him in silence.

Carefully he put off coat and boots, noticing the weak ray of light from the living room.

He stopped in the door frame.

Roronoa was on the sofa, obviously asleep. He had switched from the long black gown into a simple hoodie with some grey trousers. One naked foot was half-standing, half-laying on the ground just as well as one hand, the fingers covered by the long sleves. The other hand was buried in-between some book' pages, the head rested on his forearm, the loosely braided hair fell over his shoulder and swung slowly over the ground.

"Welcome back home, Sire." He was greeted by a soft voice behind him.

He did not turn around but gazed at his guest.

"She spent the whole night waiting for you." Kanan mumbled and joined him at the door. "I was not able to send her to bed."

Mihawk shook his head and turned away.

"None of my business." He headed for the stairs.

"Sire?" The voice of his former nanny stopped him. "Are you aware what this young child is going through?"

Slowly he turned for her, not certain which direction this conversation was going. "Of course I am."

She met his view.

"It must be horrible for her to be all alone with strangers, helpless and at need of their kindness. To miss one's friends and being far away from them. Not being allowed to give in for one second, not being allowed to be weak for one second."

"Kanan…"

"Since when are you so weak you cannot bear a desperate person?" He did not expect such an accuse.

"I am not weak!"

She stepped towards him. "I have no idea what you quarrel about all the time and I am getting used to find that girl crying afterwards, but she waited for you all night to apologize. She was not the one who ran away."
"Are you trying to say that I am the one at fault? I owe Ror...my guest nothing. Do you understand? I was the one asked for help, that is the only reason I am still here. Just because of my kindness I have not left this island. There is nothing, but nothing at all, obligating me to take care of this child and I do not have any reason to bear such childish behavior of someone seeking my help." He hissed at his former nanny. How could she dare to scold him for his decisions?

"No obligation? So what about your honor as a Dracule? You took her in, so you are responsible for that girl. No matter who she is and how she behaves."
He did not answer.

"You promised to train her. You promised to guard her. But it seems your promises lost their value. And it seems I failed in educating you but at least I did hope that your sister would have been more successful to train you into one honorable swordsman."

"Keep Sharak out of it!"

"No! I am aware about how hard it must be for you to be back here, back in this house. All those buried memories of past times. But for God's sake those memories are over. Your sister and your mother are dead. The past is past. But this child is alive and needs your guidance to return back home. And you are alive! My God, I have never seen you so alive like those last few days." The housekeeper exhaled deeply. "Though you believe this child is depending on you, do not forget that you as well depend on her. I will leave now and take care of those shards before going to sleep." In mad steps she stomped towards the stairs.

"Why do you interfere? Why do you think you know about everything that happens in this mansion?" He asked her, still confused and perplex, but she did not turn around.

"Oh please, Sire. I lived here long before you were born. There is nothing I do not know."

-Zoro-

"Get up!" He was greeted by cold, harsh words.

He opened his sleepy eyes. He was in the guest room, looking at the blurred shadow of the Shichibukai.

"Training in ten minutes. Be on time!" The barking voice was already leaving again.

But at least he was awake now although he was a little bit confused that he was in the guest room. He was sure he fell asleep in the living room, after waiting forever for the Shichibukai.

The last evening had been very confusing for him. The other one running away after some little fight seemed a little bit overreacted for him. One second he looked at his left hand, multiple scratches were already healing, talking about overreacting...

He had to continue, never giving up, always fighting.

But he was also very cautious. He did not know what would await him today, what Hawk Eyes was going to do to him.

Just right on time he stumbled into the training room.

As expected the other one was already there, facing him with his back.

"Your progress is quite satisfying." Cold words hovered through the room, obviously no compliment, but a rational statement. A lingering tension was burdening the air. "So we shall begin your real training today."

In the next moment Zoro yield to the side, dodging some silver missile shot directly at him. He could feel the draft scratching his cheek. In the same breath he jerked his hand upwards and closed his fist.

The missile, the Shichibukai had thrown at him, was a sword, pulsing against his wavering fingers. The blade mirrored his bleeding cheek, lonely blood drops running down like tears.

"This sword," the other one caught his attention. "Goes by the name Josei and is one of the twelve supreme grade swords."

Stunned Zoro regarded the weapon in his hand. Never in his life had he held one of those swords before. He could literally feel its power, realizing how its energy spread through his fingers and down his arm.

He knew this weapon was anything but normal.

Slowly he observed the hilt in-between his thin fingers. Some bright red silk was almost burning his skin, meandering softly, while the not any less bright blue diamonds cooled him. It seemed the sword was fighting for its own control, while being angered about his grip.

"Josei is one of the twin-Supremes. If I recall correctly you already fought its brother, Dansei."

Surprised he looked at the Shichibukai, but then he remembered the immense force he fought against, so contraire to the energy in his hand.

"Homura." He whispered, remembering the katana with blue silk and red diamonds, which had sliced him open not so long ago.

"Indeed." The Shichibukai agreed coldly. "While Dansei is the perfect match for calm hands and no friend of raged fighting, Josei is more of the imperious and temperamental type. It is impossible to bend its will or to control it completely. This blade craves for blood and death, it is indeed quite dangerous to handle. It needs complete trust and acceptance without being obedient and giving in to its force. Nothing most swordsmen can fight with and survive. But you should already be used to such a sword, after all you call Kitetsu of the third generation you own. But do not dare to imagine your Kitetsu is even close to the power of a supreme."

For a second their eyes met.

"Why are you telling me all of this?" He asked in doubt.

The Shichibukai sighed. "Think on your own for once in a while. Being a swordsman you are in need of a weapon. A weapon suiting your fighting style. This sword will be your property for now. When you mastered it, it will be yours for all time. But remember, it is not meant to fight along with other swords, especially not your three-swords-style. Josei cannot endure other Gods next to it."

Zoro swallowed harshly. After the past night he had expected the older one to throw him out and now he was given one of the mightiest swords in the world, just like that?

"Are you fuckin' kidding me?"
"I expected some more gratitude to be honest." Dracule answered cold.

"So you're just giving me one of the twelve supreme grade swords, am I right?" He could not believe it.

"Wrong."
Sure…

"You never seem to listen, Roronoa. I am not simply giving you this sword, I cannot. Josei decides on its own, if you are capable of owning it or not. If you are able to master it, it will be yours. If not, I will take it away, for it will certainly kill you."

With a grin Zoro regarded his new weapon.

"I like challenges." He murmured and whipped away the blood.

In this moment the door opened and a strangely quiet Kanan entered. Confused both swordsmen stared at her. It was not likely for her to bother their training.

"My lord? There is something important." Her voice was unusual low.

The Shichibukai nodded.

"Repeat the exercise from yesterday morning, now with this sword. If you notice any difficulty, return to the basics. No overstraining. Accuracy and precision is more important than speed. I will be back soon."

He gave him the sheath and left. It was colored in bright red, decorated with blue silk for a better hold. Mihawk left the room, but Kanan was still there, starring at him.

"Josei." She whispered in devotion.

The green-haired one turned towards her.

"You know this sword?" He asked her. She never seemed like a fighter for him.

She nodded.

"Of course, it was the one of the young ladyship."

-Mihawk-

He wondered why the housekeeper was not coming back.

If there was something so important, to interrupt their session, he could at least expect her to show some decency and tell him what was of such great importance.

It had been her, who urged him to this next step and now he would miss the first moves of his disciple to become a true master of swords. His patience was already wearing thin so he hoped for Kanan that her reasoning was good.

With naked feet he stomped down the hallway, striking his hair back and fixing his shirt, some needless habit after training, but then he paused.

Unbelieving he stared at the front door, while the world lost all color.

Like a long gone memory would return back to life he saw the past return to reality.

"What are you doing here?"