Hello everybody,

yes, I'm a little bit late, I'm really sorry, but life is busy as always^^'

baronnis: Thank you very much and yes it will become very emotional again today

BlueBoltKatana: I'm sorry that I've kept you waiting so long. Oh, the girl's name is Yaone. Yes there is a cute little side-story to that girl (at least in my head). SO I never watched keeping up with the Kardashians (please don't kill me) but I take it as a compliment that you enjoyed the chapter ;-)

rikichancute: Thank you very much and don't worry, this chapter will be a little bit calmer

So thank you all so much for your comments, favors and follows and without anymore small-talk we will proceed with the aftermaths of the ball.

Have fun

Chapter 29 – Release

-Zoro-

They were laughing, joking about the huge eyes of the other guests, about the high-pitched voice of the world noble who had ordered to stop them, about the shocked Eizen, about every single idiot watching them leave.

They laughed about Zoro's broken high heel and about an ugly red mark on Mihawk's nose, stained from his mask.

They laughed because none of them had known that the sign for the last dance had been changed and they laughed about the poor little girl, who had danced with Mihawk and had probably been scared to death by him.

They laughed at the thought what the newspapers would write about this night and in how much trouble they would get.

They were still laughing when they reached Sasaki and Mihawk carried him all the way back.

They laughed about that as well.

Zoro had given in. His feet were hurting like hell and his shoe was broken. He actually enjoyed that he did not need to walk the whole way.

But then they realized that sooner or later Kanan would find out what had happened. The laughter died out, but they kept grinning.

"Do you think the major's wife will go insane because of us?" He giggled silently, while pulling the huge jacket closer around his fragile body. Of course they did have no time to pick up coat or hat on their run and it was still damn cold at night, and Zoro's body was freezing in his razor-thin dress so he had accepted the other ones offer, although he would never admit how glad he had been about it.

The Shichibukai laughed deeply again.

"I can already hear her voice: Tenkai, you should have stopped them! Why did they do that? You know we will regret that tomorrow?"
Zoro shook his head, almost leaning against the wide chest.

"I would never do anything I might regret."
But he paused. Yes, he had followed this believe all his life, but in the end…

"Roronoa?"

"Hm?"

He looked up. Yellow-golden eyes met his own in a piercing way; it was one of few times he wanted to avoid it. He did not want to look at this man, who was not only his friend but also his greatest rival.

The man, who carried him, sighed deeply.

"What happened? What changed your mood so suddenly?" The forest surrounding them was quiet. Strange how calm such an exciting day could end. "Come on, talk to me." The older one murmured, still those pervading eyes on him.

"You're annoying." Zoro answered cold and folded his arms.

"Do you remember?" He asked, without looking t the other one. "After our fight I have sworn myself that I would never be defeated again until I would become the greatest swordsman in the world."

He would have never dreamed of talking with Hawk Eyes out of all about this.

"I remember." The older one said simply.

"I was defeated." He whispered. "By Homura. I failed."
The other one laughed softly.

"This is no fucking joke." He gnarled. He had told the other one his deepest thoughts for once and the other one laughed about him.

Mihawk grinned on.

"It is quite amusing how much our opinions differ about the same facts."

"What are you talking about. I've lost, that's the only fact that matters."

But the other one did not lose his smile.

"Did you?" He asked. "Did you really lose? In my opinion the one who failed is Nataku."

Zoro looked up at the other one, but this time it was Mihawk, who looked in the distance, without meeting his view. "I spoke with Hakkai. He told me some interesting things. For once that they were not ordered to arrest you. But when Nataku visited for some monthly report he came up with that idea. He was also the one who demanded that he would be the one to take you out." Dracule sighed. "I assume, he had heard about our encounter and wanted to break my toy again. Anyway, Nataku is a master in the art of the sword. It should have been no difficulty for him to predict your strengths and weaknesses."

He looked back down at him.

"After your arrest Nataku apologized for your condition. He told Hakkai that during the fight with you he had decided that it would be too dangerous to let a man like you stay alive. He advised Hakkai to question you as soon as possible because you would not live long enough to see the next sunrise. Nataku was convinced you would die within the next few hours after your fight." The Shichibukai laughed again. "And few days later you were still alive and took down the whole base, while saving your own crew. If you ask me, you are not loser of your duel, but Nataku. He failed all the way down."

They were quiet, only the muffled steps of the older one hollowed through the darkness.

"There is only one thing I still wonder about." Dracule started again. "Why did you even go ashore at this Senichi-island so close to the G-6? As far as I know it is uninhabited and too small for any magnetic polarization for the Log Pose."

Zoro sighed heavily. Yes, this had been his mistake. Actually all of this had been only his fault.

"The other ones wanted to celebrate." He mumbled quiet. "Luffy was convinced that a proper party needed a decent campfire and he's the captain. Order is order." He sighed again. "I didn't want it, this party. But Luffy was as happy as a little child. How could I've refused him? But I didn't pay attention, didn't care about my cover, otherwise I would have noticed much earlier that we were in danger."

"But you are not the only one who should have stayed alert, right?"

"But only Luffy, Usopp and I left the Sunny. The other ones only came when they noticed that we were in trouble. I don't know why it took them so long to stay onboard while we put up the campfire. And neither Luffy nor Usopp are known for their alertness."
Mihawk shrugged his shoulders.

"Fine, even if it was your fault. You saved all your friends so you cleared that dept, right? There is nothing left for you to regret."

Zoro shrugged his shoulders as well.

"Easy to say for someone like you."
"Excuse me? Do you really think that in past times I have never put my crewmembers in danger due to wrong decisions? Tze, sorry to disappoint you, but there were times when even I was not the feared Shichibukai, respected by all. I made mistakes and paid for them. That is the burden you have to carry if you assume responsibility."

Both of them fell silent while Zoro brooded about the other one's words. He actually did not regret that he wanted to protect the other ones or that he had to carry this responsibility, but…
"By the way what was the matter with Comil?"

Surprised he raised his head. The old mansion appeared in front of them.

"What are you talking about?" Could the other one have noticed, who – or more precise what – the vice admiral was?

"Please, do not think of me as rather stupid. Of course I noted your conversation, far too familiar for two strangers meeting the first time. It was not complicated to figure it out."

The other one lived up to his name of a strategist. Zoro had not thought that it had been that obvious. On the other hand Mihawk had met old Banri and even though Zoro had not told the older one what Banri had told him, he actually expected the Shichibukai to do the math that there were more of them than just two.

"All in all she was quite nice." He admitted finally.

"She?" Surprised the older one looked at him. Zoro nodded.

"Yes, Comil's other name is Jade." But then he shocked his head. "You know, I won't tell you more about it. So why do you even ask?"

The other one did not reply, apparently brooding over something, while walking through the front yard.

When they reached the front door Dracule exhaled, almost relieved.

"So it was not about my father."

His words were not meant for Zoro. The pirate could see that the black-haired one was still furrowing his forehead. But Zoro had no clue where a connection between Comil and Dracule Senior could be.

The Shichibukai opened the door with his elbow, not even bothering about letting Zoro down or taking off his shoes, but simply went on.

The lightness from only few minutes ago had disappeared. Strange how none of them was able to keep up the happy mood. Considering this it was no surprise that their closest friends showed so many parallels.

The house was dark but warm. Kanan would watch her daughter's cats again this night, so there was nobody there to greet them.

Caught in their own thoughts, both swordsmen stayed quiet. With silent steps the older one went upstairs. Zoro could hear his heartbeat. He wondered if it was faster than usual. Probably not. He was tired and his senses were not as sharp as usual, he had to imagine it.

He allowed the older one to put him down on his bed in the guestroom.

"It went better than expected." He mumbled low. "I'm neither married nor enslaved. Didn't actually expect that."

The other one laughed tired, he seemed exhausted as well.

"Tomorrow we will see the consequences of this night."

Zoro grinned.

"Oh stop whining, it was your decision after all. So suck it up and help me to get out of this damn dress."
Finally it was over, this one night where he had to play lady was over. No matter what would happen the next day, it all was over in a few days.

His mood slowly rose as he realized that there would be no more dancing lessons, meetings, and no more fittings.

Finally!

In a few days he would see his friends again.

Swiftly he pulled off shoes and gloves.

When he got up and turned towards the Shichibukai he could see him blushing.

"I'm still fully dressed!" He grinned and stroked his hair over his shoulder.

"You have to help me."

"What?" Mihawk seemed everything but happy.

Zoro sighed.

"I can't open the laces on my own and Kanan isn't around. I'm not naked beneath. So please forget your damn education for one second and open it up!"

For hell's sake this guy was terribly exhausting. If he had asked the cook, he would have been undressed before he could have finished his question. Wait, this image was too disturbing to think about it.

Still, the prude Mister Dracule was at least as annoying.

Zoro raised both of his arms and gave sight of the thin, almost invisible lacings on both sides.

The Shichibukai looked away.

"Don't make such a fuss! After all I'm still a man only in a female body!" He was slowly getting mad. Why was the other one making such a great deal out of it? "Besides this wouldn't be your first time seeing me half naked, so just come here!"

He stomped his foot in annoyance.

"And you call yourself greatest swordsman in the world?"
Just then the other one looked at him, a little bit angered.

"Watch your tongue." He warned him. But then Mihawk came towards him.

Zoro raised his arms again, while the other one tried to free him from his dress.

"This would be so much easier if you were a man again." The Shichibukai grumbled, apparently not able to loosen the laces but only pulling them tighter.

"If I were a man right now we wouldn't have this problem." Zoro answered just as grim. "Besides I certainly wouldn't wear a dress."

He could not hinder that the other one's words somehow hit him. For once because it was already difficult enough for him to be in this body and for second because it sounded like Dracule was disappointed in him. Disappointed because he was still a woman.

"Watch it! You're strangulating me." He murmured.

"Yeah yeah, it has to be like this."
The Shichibukai kneeled down, his eyes slit in concentration.

"How pathetic." Zoro murmured again.

"What?" Mihawk was not really listening to him.

"That you out of all are not able to undo this damn dress and we're standing here like two idiots."

"For the last time, Roronoa." The other one was not even looking at him, while his fingers were entangled with his lace. "I know you have been following my footsteps half of your life, but I want to remind you that I am still only a mere human as well. I might be a Shichibukai, but that does not change anything about me being a normal man, and this fastener is completely beyond my capacity."

Zoro looked down at the other one.

"I know." He said plain. Of course he knew that behind the phenomena Hawk Eyes stood only a single man, who would grow old with time, would die in time.

But why was the other one telling him that?

Suddenly the tension at his right side loosened up and a surprisingly childish grin lightened up the Shichibukai's features.

"Way to go." He laughed. "You see, Roronoa. I can do everything I want to do."

"Yeah, you terrifying warrior of the great sea." Zoro murmured sarcastically with a raised eyebrow. "However you forgot the other side."

He turned around grinning evil, while the older one lost his smile.

"My God, what a waste of time."

"Stop whining and just do it. Can't be that complicated."

"Says the guy who is not even able to use Haki."
For a moment their glance met.

"That was a mean one, you know?" He replied slightly offended.

The Shichbukai got up, with this scarily soft smile and looked down at him.

"After all I have to savor the time I have left before you defeat me."

Zoro blushed.

In this moment the laces at his left got lose and the dress fell down.

"Roronoa!"

Now it was Mihawk who blushed, although that was much understated.

His face was almost steaming in shame and he slapped both of his hands in front of his eyes like a little child.

"You said you would wear something beneath!"
And now it was Zoro who grinned. Although it was surprisingly cold, in nothing but his white slip, a pair of stockings and his garter belt.

He folded his arms in victory, showing off his naked bust.

"I said I wouldn't be completely naked beneath. I'm not as you can see." He laughed evil. "Could see." He corrected snickering.

"Now help me to get those stockings off." He ordered cold.

"WHAT?!" In panic the other one stared through his fingers, noting that Zoro was still standing topless in the cold room and clutched his fingers back together.

"You're insane!"

Zoro could not help but laugh about that childish behavior.

With a grin he turned around and grabbed his nightgown.

"In such moments I wonder how you were ever able to sleep with someone." He mumbled more to himself than to this other one and put on the soft silk.

"That is something totally different." The Shichibukai mumbled. "Did you put something on?"
"Yeah, sure." He answered and fell down on his bed, his feet were hurting like hell.

"Why is it something different? Shouldn't this be easier for you? I don't care if you see me naked and I'm a guy, so…"
He did not finish his sentence when the other one dared to take a glimpse at him again and finally lowered his hands.

"There is a difference, Roronoa. You are not my bedfellow."
"Bedfellow? My gosh, how ancient are you?"

Before the other one could answer anything he pulled up his nightgown and showed the shank buttons of his garter.

"Roronoa!
"Stop being so girly."
"Can you not do it on your own?!"

"Yes, I actually could." He grinned evil.

"But why…?" "Isn't it obvious?" He did not let the other one finish his question.

The Shichibukai raised an eyebrow but eventually got down on his knees and leaned forward to open those small buttons. His head was almost touching Zoro's chest and his long fingers touched his skin.

Grinning devilishly Zoro leaned forward as well, placed a hand at Mihawk's shoulder and whispered close to his ear: "Revenge!"

"A dangerous companion." But the older one grinned as well, still blushing deeply, and took care of Zoro's other leg now.

"But revenge for what?"
"Your stupid question of course! I mean, a kiss? Come one, seriously?!"

Now the older one looked up, their faces dangerously close.

"What did you expect? A life? What should I do with you? You are no good in cooking or in cleaning. I am not in need for a useless slave."

The Shichibukai rolled both stockings down.

"I had expected a night." Zoro answered a little bit pouty. "You would have taken me with you, we would have trained and that's it."

Mihawk got up and walked towards the door.

"Go to sleep now, it was a long day. Starting tomorrow we will train for real."

His sudden change of topic surprised Zoro but then the older one turned around. "I never wanted to force you to do something. I wanted you to come with me by choice, because it was your own wish, and not because you felt obligated to do so."
The door fell close behind him, leaving behind an unexpected melancholic feeling.

Happiness and goofiness, warmness and heartiness had disappeared together with the Shichibukai.

How strange that the other one thought Zoro had not already decided in favor for him?

Moonily he walked into the bathroom and cleaned his face, neck and décolleté from make-up.

The other one's words still hovered through his head, but drowned more and more by words of other men. Homura was less of a problem, but he was afraid that Eizen would not give up that easily. But he as well was not the one, who worried him the most.

You will not be able to change your body until you behave according to your knowledge.

Silent tears fell down when Comil's dark voice reached him.

He knew what he had to do. He knew there was only one day.

Slowly he slummed down on the carpet of the bathroom and hugged his knees. For the first time he did not care about his tears.

What was happening to him? Why did this feel so heavy? Why did he have to make such decisions?

Before all of this had happened he had been happy, he had been truly happy with his crew.

It had been enough! They had been more than he ever had needed or wanted.

And now he was sitting here and cried.

Like a little child.

This life here had changed him, the people here had changed him, Mihawk had changed him.

He had to make a decision and no matter how he would decide, he would hurt people dear to him.

Would Mihawk understand his decision? Would he still respect him?

At that time, when Zoro had asked for his help, he had almost lost his respect. Would Mihawk forgive him this deed?

Since when was it so important for him what the other one thought of him?

Would the other one forgive him?

Would he forgive himself?

Why the hell did he have to go through all of this?!

If he had been given the choice, maybe he would have preferred to simply die! Because then he would not have to decide, would not have to act, would not have to hurt anybody.

He had to overcome his own damn pride, only that way he could go on!

-Mihawk-

The water dropped steadily from his face into the cold sink of black marble. Again and again he drowned his face under cold water.

He looked up into the mirror, saw how single drops of water got stuck within his beard, saw this little red mark at the bridge of his neck, which still was not going to disappear no matter how much soap he used.

He saw those cursed eyes, which looked back so unusually angry.

His heart pounded loudly.

He felt hot!
He felt cold!

He wanted to scream! He wanted to break something!

With both arms he leaned onto the cold stone, while heavy gasps fought their ways out of his chest.

Then he ripped the clothes from his body. He seemed to burn underneath.

But the stupid cuff buttons would not open.

"Fucking dammit!"

The next moment he ripped the shirt apart and threw it away, shoes followed and he rushed through the room.

He stopped in front of Yoru.

His shivering hands longed for the touch of the black sword.

Almost hesitant he allowed his fingers to brush over the cold blade.

Right away he could feel it grow. His inner peace, his inner calm.

His most loyal friend, his closest companion. Only Yoru knew, what he felt, what he thought. Nobody was as familiar with him as his partner. Nobody knew him like Yoru did.

"What on earth am I supposed to do?" He whispered into the darkness. "Is there anything I actually can do?"

He was still touching the manifested night.

"He said it himself, right? He makes his own decisions. No matter what I will say or do it would be wrong."
Why was his friend not answering? Why was Yoru humming so silently?

"You think this is a joke, right? That a little child is able to kill my patience so easily."

He noted simple approval for the first time.

He sighed. Enjoyed the power floating into him, calming him.

"What do you think? You have tasted his blood and forgiven me that I spared his life. Would you still want to kill him?"

The answer did not surprise him much.

"He will leave me behind and both of us know that this is for the best."

He let go of Yoru and turned around.

This was for the best. Roronoa had to return to his crew. He expected the other one to continue his journey. This was part of the other one, to put up his own rules, to play to his own game. This was why he had come so far. This was why he was here, with him.

If Roronoa would not be like this, he would not be Roronoa.

This was the reason why he had asked him for a kiss.

He did not want to own him, did not want to decide over him, not for one second. He had the feeling that he should not tame this tomboy; that he did not want to tame him. Irrespective of if he was even able to do it.

But Roronoa did not understand, Roronoa did not see.

He had a fixed goal in mind, to return to his crew.

And that was for the best. The best for the boy.

With his back against Yoru's commode he slit down to the ground.

"But this is not about me." He answered to no one.

With one hand he pulled open a drawer to his left and pulled out a bottle filled with brown-golden fluid. Luckily this house was filled with his secret backup-savings.

A voice in the back of his mind wondered if the pirate had found the secret hide places in the guestroom.

He ripped out the cork with his mouth and started drinking.

Today he had had the possibility, the possibility to bind Roronoa at himself. But of course he could never do that.

He wanted Roronoa to be happy and that was obviously only possible with his crew. He had seen how easy it had been for Jirou to make the younger one laugh. How he had wished that he would be able to make Roronoa laugh with him that much, but even the slightest smile was hard work for him. But it was easy to picture that he could laugh with his friends, his crew, and his always smiling captain like this.

He placed the already much lighter bottle next to his legs on the ground. Some drops ran through his beard, dropped down on his naked chest and disappeared within his pants.

Again and again he hit his head slightly against the wood behind his back.

He knew what he wanted.

For the first time in many many years there was something he really wanted to have.

And it was the first time ever that he would not take it, even if he could.

Damn, what did happen to him?

What had he taken into this house?

But next time I would prefer you to not give me the credit I deserve. Instead give me the credit with what I'm worth to you.

With a sigh he lifted the bottle again.
If he would do that, he would definitely lose the other one.

His own feelings scared him, but he knew that they would scare the other one even more.

Roronoa was not ready for something like this, would probably never be.

And if he was ready for that he was not really sure himself.

"Fucking dammit!" He mumbled for another time and emptied the bottle.

The little burn in his throat felt good. It was always easier to endure physical pain than this other one.

He closed his eyes, but pictures of the other one haunted him.

Revenge

Oh, if the other one would know, who he was punishing the most.

Yes, today he would allow himself to drown in self-pity and tomorrow he would be that person again, the other one expected him to be.

Dracule Hawk Eyes Mihawk. Cold strategist and greatest swordsman in the world.

The other one accepted his guidance, his protection and his friendship.

This was all what he could give the other one, because he could not take more.

After all they did survive the ball and Roronoa had been in a good mood.

He was probably already sleeping safe and sound in his little bed, dreaming about being back together with his crew.

If Comil really was one of those strange creatures, who were reincarnated in different bodies after their deaths, he had probably helped Roronoa to find his solution.

That was why the other one had been so happy.

He had found a way to become a man again.

Their deal said that he would protect the other one, as long as he was a woman.

With a sigh he pulled open the next drawer.

The next sunrise was hours away and it would be enough if one of them would sleep well.