A great Sunday to all of you,

I know I'm a little bit late (technology can be difficult sometimes^^) but here we go again (this will be the last chapter before the ball will finally begin)

Thank you for all your comments, favoring and following.

And BlueBoltKatana: I'm so sorry. I personally love loves parallels ;-) And I kind of got the feeling you will hate me much more in a few chapters...

Chapter 25 – Conversation

-Zoro-

"Watch your cover!"

He leaned to the side and blocked the housekeeper's attack with his right arm.

"Yield! A real foe would have broken your bones just now."

The fight was tough. After hours of dancing it should be nice to do something useful, but Zoro had his trouble accepting that Kanan was on the same level as he was.

No, that was not right.

Kanan was actually inferior in her skills to him. Many of her attacks and movements were sloppy and rough. But she was fast and changed her fighting stile within half of a second. There was no pattern, no maneuver she used a second time. It was like he was fighting a new enemy with every breath he took. Additionally she was much stronger than he was.

She grinned evilly at him. By now she had started to enjoy their little quarrels, but for him it was serious business.

Hawk Eyes expected him to beat the housekeeper before he would return to his crew. But he had another goal. He wanted to win before the ball.

But he had one little problem to consider.

This was his last training session before the ball in two days.

The last days have somehow fused to a strange oneness. Early breakfast at dawn with the Shichibukai reading the newspaper, afterwards dancing and training. They had spent the late evenings in the living room or at the balcony. Sometimes the older one had to leave for some meetings but spared Zoro from accompanying him, luckily. There had been less of those annoying articles about Lady Loreen, but still at least one in every newspaper and Zoro was sure that they would multiply after the ball again.

Kanan had insisted that he would not train the day before the ball, so he would not be covered in bruises and to his annoyance his overprotective teacher had agreed on that.

It was not like he could not understand. He had accepted his situation but he simply did not like the kind way the older one looked at him.

Not right now, right now he corrected his evasive movement with an icy voice, apparently not really satisfied with him. But Zoro had already noticed it. Something, and he did not know what it was, made him inferior although he was so much better than the former nanny.

He remembered the dance-training with the Shichibukai but he simply had no idea how he was supposed to know what she was thinking even before she was thinking it!

He could dodge in the right moment, block in the right moment, but he found the weaknesses in her defense too slow. It was like he was reacting instead of acting.

He was obviously the more experienced fighter and actually she would be no thread if he were in his other body, actually he should be able to predict her movements minutes before her, like he always used to do it with his opponent. It usually took him only second after second to understand his enemy's fighting style, but this here was different.

He was missing something.

But the worst part was that his wanna-be-guardian could see it, feel it, hear it or whatever!

Dracule's discontent was easy to notice and did not help him much. It was not pushing his ego that he was close to improve but could not solve the riddle, while it appeared to be so obvious to the other one, who seemed to be close to scratch out his own hawk eyes in agony.

The last days had been tough. Mihawk behaved strange towards him. He could not really grasp what it was. It was like the other one had flipped a switch. The older one still treated him like a child, scolded him for his apparently bad manners and got easily upset over nonsense. But somewhere in-between, between their little quarrels, between his patronizing fusses, between his strict eyes, he had started to smile.

And that scared the hell out of Zoro!

It was already bad enough that he got used to eat together, train together, spend the evening together.

It was already bad enough that he had started to accept the other one, maybe even started to like him. It was already bad enough that he allowed the other one to guard him, to protect him.

But now that idiot started with this scary behavior.

Zoro had to stay alert. He had to be careful that he did not start to like this life, that he did not become satisfied with this life.

At that day, when Luffy made him join his crew, there had been nothing for him to leave behind. When the other ones had left their homes he had often wondered what kind of feeling that must be, but he actually never wanted to feel it.

By now he could imagine it, could already feel this inner conflict.

He wanted to return to his friends!
That had never been up for discussion.

But actually, actually, when he was totally honest, he had come to like the people here.

The people of this island, from the Viking-like major with the dark, soft voice of a bear, over the always grinning rear admiral with his sparkling green eyes, to the overprotective housekeeper with her motherly smile.

And Mihawk.

Dammit!

When did he become so soft?! When did the other one become so soft?! Was he not supposed to be one of the most dangerous and frightening man in the world? So why did he not feel intimidated? Why did he feel save when he was close to that man?

When did they become important to each other?!

All those thoughts chased his head, while the former nanny chased his body, but no matter how fast he was he could not escape her blade or his messy mind.

Actually it was nothing unusual. He had spent some intense time with those people of this island. Even the cook had become somewhat close to him after half of an eternity, although he would never admit that. At some point he had even started to trust Nico Robin. It was not that unusual that he had come to like the kind Kanan.

Mihawk on the other hand, he really had disliked him at the beginning. He had respected and regarded him, but cursed his arrogant, puffed-up character.

But at some point, between nights with vine and hours of dancing he had realized that the other one was a human being like everybody else. Only while training he had remembered how powerful Hawk Eyes was.

But while drinking the older one had talked a lot, while reading he had smiled a lot and while dancing his hands had been warm, his heartbeat calm. Zoro had simply followed his steps, allowed him to lead. Their movement had adjusted to each other, had become one. In that moments he had been able to read the other one like an open book, in those moments they had been so close to each other, like he had known the other one for his entire life. Like the rhythm was stretching time, he had been able to see every small quiver of the older one's mouth. He had been able to feel every tiny muscle tension. He had noticed everything at the same time and was also able to act in the same moment.

That was it!

Suddenly he knew exactly what he had missed up until now. It was just like dancing. How had he been able to oversee that? He had thought that it had been not more than dancing, but actually it had been the most important lesson he had needed.

Suddenly the world seemed to move slower than before. Zoro knew what he had to do now.

Kanan rushed towards him, surprisingly fast but it felt so slow in his mind. He knew what she was going to do, could see her movement before she moved. It was almost like he was steering her through his own eyes.

"It's over!" She yelled, already smelling a brutal victory.

Only few steps were between them. He could see them, thousands of gaps in her defense, every mistake in her motions.

Why did he miss that before? It was so simple! No wonder Dracule was going crazy over there.

Like in slow-motion he dodged her blade, raise his sword and…

"Enough."

Out of nothing appeared the Shichibukai between them. With one hand he held Kanan's short sword, with the other one he had stopped Zoro, without even touching him. Like an invisible wall the air in front of him had stopped the force of Zoro's hit.

"Sire, how dare you to interfere! I would have defeated her by now!" The housekeeper yelled upset.

But Dracule's eyes were placed upon him. He looked at him and Zoro was sure he could see something like pride in his teacher's eyes. Behind him Kanan growled like a thunderstorm.

"We are done for today." The Master of the house stated clear.

"What? Why do you think so? I was just getting started."
It almost sounded like the housekeeper had found a liking in fighting him.

Hawk Eyes shook his head.

"The fight is over. You have lost, Kanan, and every following one you would loose from now on as well."

For another time the older one looked at him and slowly he nodded and Zoro hated himself at that moment.

Because he was beaming with pride and could feel tears building up in his huge, childish eyes.

He did it and he had beaten Mihawk's expectation for another time. It took all of him to show nothing more than a polite smile instead of grinning like a fool.

Very slowly he put Josei back into its sheath and turned to the door, now the grin was on place. He had not one scratch, Kanan had not landed one hit. He would have beaten Mr. 1 unhurt and from now on he would become stronger, strong enough to beat any enemy.

Pride filled every inch of his body while he went to change clothes, ignoring the loud voice of the housekeeper and the annoyed answer of the Shichibukai, both of them following him to go back in the other part of the house.

The door fell shut in his back, finally he was alone.

"I hope you will not get carried away."

Surprised he turned around. Mihawk was behind him, observing him with folded arms.

He was slightly embarrassed because he was wearing nothing except for his bra and slip but it was totally worth it, because it seemed like the Shichibukai was just realizing that as well. Blushing deeply he lowered his view and turned half way around.

"Only because you are able to see now, you are not invincible, understand?"

And there was the damper he had already been waiting for.

"At bottom it is already surprisingly how you could survive so many fights without being able to see. I assume you compensated that with rough muscle power."

Well, if that was supposed to be praise, it was really bad.

Zoro turned his back towards the older one and opened his bra, by now it had become much easier, he had become used to it as well.

"Do you have to do that in front of me?"
"Just don't look if it bothers you that much!" He answered just as annoyed. "And what do you mean with seeing? Not like I have been blind before."

The Shichibukai behind him sighed deeply. "No, only a little bit slow minded as it seems. Of course seeing has nothing to do with the eyes. This is about connecting mind and soul with each other. If you learn how to do it on purpose and to notice if someone else uses it against you, you can act much faster than when you only use your other senses."

Surprised Zoro looked up.

"Really?" he mumbled low in astonishment and started to get dressed.

"Are you telling me that you did it without actually knowing what you were doing?" Pure bewilderment and Disbelief greeted him. "Impossible, how do you even survive? No knowledge of nothing, but doing it all on instinct. One day you'll be my death for sure."

Fully dressed Zoro turned around, wondering if the other one was aware that that was the actual deal. Haw Eyes still regarded him coolly.

"It takes you unusually long to understand a concept. You use tactics and techniques that need a high level of skills, without even understanding what you are doing. I have never before seen a swordsman like you. Theoretical lessons are a complete waste of time when it comes to you, you only learn in a direct duel. I really wonder how your former master was able to teach you without dying in desperation."

"What do you want?" He gnarled at the older one, while he tried to tame his hair. "I did it, right? And I was faster than you expected, so stop acting like that."

Hawk Eyes stood in his way, looking way too serious.

"True, Roronoa. Your diligence and ambition have brought you far. Your talent is beyond comparison. But be careful, your pride might bring you down. There is so much out there, what you cannot even imagine by now."

For a moment they simply shared a glance.

"Talent is not everything, Roronoa. Keep in mind that even your gift cannot save you from arrogance. Your childish errors are keeping you from becoming a true master of the swords. Learn to control your emotions; learn to be grateful for your talent and to be humble and most importantly learn respect for the knowledge you receive. Understood?"

"Why are you telling this? Why are you lecturing me right now? You told me all this stuff already long time ago. Do you really think I'm not listening when I act like I'm not listening?"

Dracule opened his mouth but he did not say anything. Zoro could see how his breathing was quicker than usual. Those things the older one just had told him were a lesson he had to learn himself as it seemed, because he looked like he was close to lose control again. It was almost like a new thunderstorm was awaiting him. He did not know, what provoked the other one. But he was tired, he was exhausted. He did not want another conversation like this. He did not want to know what the other one was thinking or feeling, not as long as he was not certain about his own feelings.

With a sigh he crossed his arms.

"I am grateful." He admitted. "Grateful for my second chance and that I'm alive. This has to be enough for you right now."

Tired he went past the other one and opened the door, but he could not stop himself from asking the followed question, cursing himself while the words slipped from his lips.

"When did you become that damn soft?"

He wanted to strangle himself for that much stupidity. Why for hell's sake did he say that instead of just leave for his bed?! He did not want to have that discussion! Especially not with the Shichibukai, especially not two days before he had to dance with him at a ball in a dress, especially not at all!
Those damn stupid female hormones! It must have been their fault! Why did women like to talk about everything?

Determined he walked outside and closed the door behind him, but of course the older one followed him.

"What did you say?"

Yes, he had not understood him! Lucky he, now he only needed to talk himself out of it. "You think I have become soft?"

Okay, maybe not.

Shouting at himself inwardly he turned around, a calm, serious look on his face. Although he hated himself right now, he would not show that he did this by accident. This way he would be the one in charge of this fight.

"Just look at you." He started quite well. "You are one of the seven Shichibukai, greatest swordsman in the world and I want to beat you. When we made our deal you were rationality itself. Nothing could unsettle you and you did not care for anybody else but you. And now you grin at me half of the time like a drunken seacow. Do you think I would not notice your eyes on me all the time? Do you think I would not notice that you brood over me half of the time? Your concern for me is insane and actually my life is none of your business. And I simply can't understand how a strategist like you can allow an enemy like I am, to become important to you!"

At first Hawk Eyes looked at him angrily, but word after word the older one became calmer and calmer and folded his arms.

Now he was simply looking at him.

Zoro was sure that the other one was thinking about how to kill him.

But then he laughed.

Mihawk laughed loudly and slapped his thighs, tears in his eyes.

He did not expect that. He hated it, he hated that the other one laughed like that, laughed about him.

"What's so funny about that?!" He asked, his voice unnaturally high.

Slowly the other one calmed down, shaking his head and grinning at him.

"You're simply too cute!" He laughed again, but stopped himself fast enough before Zoro could throw something at him. "Ahh." He exhaled deeply. "Apparently you have not noticed that all your words fit yourself just as well. Your problem is not, that I have become soft, but that you have become soft."

Shocked Zoro stared at him.

"You disapprove that I treat you kind, because it could cause you to actually like me as well. Until now it has been easy for you to ignore your own feelings. Because – hey - that world's greatest swordsman is an emotionless tactician. But now - oh look - that guy, who you emulate all your life, is nothing more than a normal human being and - oh God forbid – he even worries about you, although you would love to kill him. How could you arrange this with your conscience?"
The older one talked knowingly in a childish voice, obviously making fun of him.

"And now you think, so now I tell that old geezer that he's acting totally crazy, because then he will be rather too harsh than too soft and I can ignore my unwanted feelings and shove them into the darkest edge of my mind and act like I don't care about our relationship." The other one laughed loudly. "But you miss that you have blown your own cover, Roronoa. You cannot deny it any longer. You naïve logic is too obvious. If you like it or not, you like me!"

"Not even in your darkest nightmare!" Zoro barked, spun around and swept out of the hallway. Fully aware that his behavior was only confirming the other one's assumption.

But the other one should not think too great of himself. He had liked other people before and still defeated them.

The loud laughter of the Shichibukai hunted him while he rushed up the stairs.

"Loreen, what happened?" The surprised Kanan came down the floor, folded blankets in her hand.

"He's an asshole!" He yelled and ran past her, but she held him effortless, the lips squinted tightly.

"Watch your language, honey!" He wanted to reply something, because he was really in the mood for a real fight right now, but she pulled a mint-green envelope out of her pile of blankets. "This one arrived yesterday, but I forgot it with all the training and preparations. It is for you."

All anger disappeared in that very moment and for a second he even forgot the Shichibukai and his annoying laughter. With careful hands he pulled a single piece of paper out of the envelope, which smelled strangely. Was it peppermint?

Things like that were never a good sign?

"An invitation." He mumbled confused, swiftly skimming through the two written lines.
"For what?" The housekeeper asked but Zoro was more than certain that she had already read the invitation.

"No idea. It only says that the Major of Sasaki and a representative of the World Government await me tomorrow at eight o'clock for a business meeting at the city hall."

The next morning came faster than Zoro liked it. He was standing in the dark in front of his mirror and asked himself why he was doing that. Annoyed he put the earrings away. The small holes had grown back together. This was something different than the ball, nobody would behead him or disallow Dracule's title, if he refused to go. But still he was standing here and got ready for that meeting.

That old geezer was right, dammit!

He was not able to not give a damn about him.

As long as he had the feeling that his presence could be a problem for the Shichibukai he would not be a burden, he owed it to the older one.

But that did not mean that he had to accept that he liked the other one in some way! This was a partnership of convenience, nothing more.

He laughed drily. Somehow that reminded him of the touchy navigator all that time ago, she had said something quite similar, didn't she? He sighed. What had he done to deserve this?

Down in the kitchen he found the master of the house, who had been up before him like every day, reading his newspaper like every morning and holding his coffee, fried egg in front of him.

The Shichibukai raised an eyebrow, when Zoro entered all dressed up in his black pantsuit, but he did not say a word.

Kanan had been the one to tell Hawk Eyes of the invitation, because Zoro had refused to talk with him the last night. Yes, he was aware that this was childish but he could not change what he had done.

He just did not like, when the other one analyzed him and thought he knew exactly what Zoro was thinking, while Zoro did not know that himself.

With calm hands he took a cup of coffee and took a sip. He did not know what would happen later.

"Are you sure that I shall not accompany you?" The older one finally disturbed the silence without looking at him, but keeping his eyes on his newspaper, which showed a huge article covering the upcoming of the ball.

Zoro simply shook his head and took another sip.

"This invitation was only for me." He mumbled after few seconds. "It would be rude to bring somebody along."

The Shichibukai raised an eyebrow again, like he questioned Zoro motives, well aware that this was not Zoro's real problem.

"It is your decision." He meant after a while and continued reading, while he put another fork of egg in his mouth.

The pirate did no reply but emptied his cup.

"Well, I'll be off now." He said a little bit clumsy. The atmosphere was strange. He was still mad, not even knowing at what or at whom, but somehow none of this was right.

"Is it that horrible for you?" Hawk Eyes soft question sounded behind his back when he had almost reached the floor.

"What?" Confused he turned around.

The older one looked at him, showing that small smile, which frightened him so much, but it seemed different than usual, sadder.

"Is the idea that you could actually like me so horrible for you?"

This directness caught him off guard.

"I never said that!" He answered hastily and a little bit too loud. "It's complicated." He mumbled lower.

"Is it?" The other one replied.

For the first time since the last night their eyes met.

"If I were not the world's greatest swordsman, no Shichibukai and you were not the pirate who wants my title. Would it still be complicated?"

Zoro looked at him.

"That's not the point." He said.

"Then what is the point?"
This conversation was too close, too intense, too early at the morning.

"What makes it complicated?"
"You are you and I am I!"

But then he shook his head. He knew it all too well, he already knew it all too well.

"This friendship would be no obligation, Roronoa."
Surprised he looked up, but the other one stood up quietly.

"There is nothing you would owe me. The only thing I expect is that you will defeat me one day."

How could the other one talk so easy about such things?

"And I would like you to be honest with me. Alright?"

He was too direct, too clear and right now too damn sensitive. Showed Kindness and dignity. It was not like Zoro was in need of that!

Determined he made two steps towards him and offered him his hand.

Hawk Eyes looked at it like it was some exotic beast.

Zoro could not help but blushed and only stared at the other one's necklace instead of his eyes.

"You are some arrogant asshole and I hate your overprotective, egoistic ways. But fine with me, for all I care we can be friends but you have to stop acting like my damn father."

The blood in his veins started boiling while he still held is hand towards the other one.

He could hear how the other one kept himself from laughing and after a second shook his hand.

"Now you cannot change it anymore, Roronoa. Now we are friends."

Mad he stared at the other one.

"Yeah, don't think too much of it." He rushed outside, but could not help his ironic smile.

Why did he, Roronoa Zoro, do something that embarrassing? Why could he not have simply leave and behave like an actual adult? Why was he acting like a teenage girl, or worse, like the cook?

When he reached the city hall the conversation still hovered through his mind. He still wondered how foes could become friends that quickly, on the other hand all his friendships had developed this way, unwanted contacts ended in close relationships. So why did he fight this one so much?

The man mountain of a major approached him grinning widely, both arms outstretched.

"Loreen, right on time." Laughing warm-heartedly he embraced him with his strong arms. Zoro decided not to tell him that he had left over half an hour ago. This village was a real labyrinth.

Smiling friendly he followed the man with the Vikings braiding into the great meeting room, his thoughts still with his friend. The room seemed to be prepared especially for this day, but Zoro knew that it was not to please him. Not because of him all windows and furniture were polished.

At the far distant end of the long end sat an older man in black suit and with sun-glasses, the tips of his folded fingers at his lips.

There, at the end of the room was nobody else but the politician Rishou Eizen himself, although he seemed much younger than at the assembly. He still looked old, but not like he was already with one foot in the grave.

"Miss Dracule, may I ask you to take a seat, dear?" Generous the politician offered him a chair to his left, while the major walked around the long table and sat down at the other side. This situation was filled with tension, but Roronoa Zoro would never run away, so he walked down the table with his clicking heels, like it was his last walk.

"Lady Loreen." He said softly but determined, while he came closer and closer to the old man.

"Excuse me?" The politician asked, apparently not noticing his mistake.

With a smile Zoro stopped in front of the old man. He had no idea what was going on, but he wanted to take the rains, from the beginning.

"I prefer to be called Lady Loreen and because I am not related to the family Dracule it would put me in an uncomfortable position if you use that name for me."

He still showed his most friendly smile and sat down.

"And now I would love to hear about the reason you ordered me here, one day before the most important social event of the year."

"Certainly Lady Loreen, and I deeply apologize for any inconvenience you have because of this short-term meeting."

For another time Zoro was surprised how polite and friendly strangers treated him, although it was obvious that he was not that well educated and was not even trying to be. It was like strangers would like him, no matter what he did, like they would not take his threat serious because of this fragile body. It seemed l a girl like he seemed to be could be nothing else than loveable, strangers fell for his smile no matter if man or woman.

Only Mihawk seemed to be immune, at least he hoped that he was.

"As you have probably noticed already, your person has reached a certain popularity concerning media during the last couple of days."

The words of the politician seemed to be well chosen and the pirate got slowly worried that it could be much harder to be the one in charge than expected. Besides he was not really sure if the other one really had fallen for his charms or only acted like he was.

"Of course this did not happen by accident." The tension grew, Zoro could feel the danger from the other on.

"As you and your… acquaintance Mr. Dracule are certainly already aware of, the reasons are the responsibility of the World Government."

The elder smiled politely, but Zoro started sweating heavily. Up until now he had thought that the Navy was organizing the articles about Lady Loreen to distract from the upcoming war. But it seemed that those articles had a much deeper meaning than he had been aware of, if it was the World Government itself, who took actions. Why the hell were the high and mighty ones interested in someone like him?

"My dear." Eizen continued talking. "My colleagues and I are responsible for your reputation and of course we have a deeper interest in doing so." He continued smiling, but Zoro felt like needles of ice pierced him.

"My dear, as a representative of the World Government I offer you a proposal about future collaboration and I hope I can look forward to find a new associate in you."

Zoro stopped breathing.

What the fucking hell had he done to deserve this?