"What did you say?!" Aya shouted in disbelief. The four had pulled Johnny and Yosaku out from the water. The two bounty hunters were panting as they were lying on the Baratie, soaking wet through their clothes.
"For real? Nami sailed off with the Going Merry?" Luffy questioned.
"I need a straight answer, now what happened?!" Zoro demanded.
"Well, it all happened in all in a few minutes," Yosaku cried as he started to explain.
"Hey watcha looking at, big sis? I don't mean to pry or anything but what are you looking at?"
"Oh, it's nothing really." Nami replied.
"Hey, now that's a big bounty pirate. I gotta say I'm impressed," Yosaku said seeing Arlong's wanted poster. " But, big sis, I got to say, I think you're aiming a little too high going after Arlong. I'm not kidding, that guy's really bad news. He was playing it cool and laying it low for ya know, staying out of sight?"
"But, these days, that maniac is causing all sorts of trouble. It's kind of tough walking away from a 20 million beli bounty though." Johnny added.
"That guy is so powerful, that there's a slightest tiniest chance that we could lose or die." Johnny finished. Then the two noticed that Nami had not said a word.
"Big sis Nami?" Johnny asked.
"Hey, would you guys mind turning around while I change into something more comfortable?" Nami asked. The two bounty hunters blushed.
"Yeah, sure! I don't mind!" Johnny shouted.
"C-Changing? Like right now?!" Yosaku exclaimed.
"It's so hot," Nami said as she pulled down the collar of her shirt, revealing a little of her cleavage. The two bounty hunter pirates blushed completely red now and quickly turned around, looking away.
"Yeah you're right! It is hot!" the two replied.
"Hey what do you say if we turn around and see if she's done or not?" Yosaku asked. The two smirked but suddenly Johnny and Yosaku were kicked from behind and they were knocked off from the Merry, falling into the sea. The two shot out from the water to see Nami, who had a mischievous smirk, looking down at them.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Johnny shouted.
"I'm doing business, of course! Use your heads, guys. I'm a thief who only target pirates and my next score is this ship. I never said anything about being a member of this crew, I was just traveling with them nothing more. Even though I spent a short time with Luffy and the gang, I sure had a lot of fun. Make sure to tell them that. If it's truly meant to be, I'll see them real soon!" Nami explained, sailing away with the Going Merry.
"So, that's the story of how big sis Nami took the ship!" Johnny finished explaining what had happened.
"We're sorry!" Yosaku answered.
"Damn it!" Zoro cursed angrily under his breath. "She just had to make the situation worse!"
"But, why would she just suddenly do that?" Aya mumbled to herself. "She had plenty of opportunities before. She could have left at any time."
"She's a heartless thief, that's what she is! Kaya gave us that ship!" Usopp shouted, angry as well.
"Wait, a see a ship! It's the Going Merry!" Luffy said, seeing the ship not too far off from the horizon. He turned to the two bounty hunters. "Tell me where your boat is!"
"We had it lured to the restaurant," Johnny said to him.
"Zoro, Usopp, don't just stand there. Take the ship and go get Nami!" Luffy told the two.
"Calm down, let her keep the ship. Trust me, that woman's way more trouble than she's worth," Zoro replied.
"She's the only person I'll accept as the ship's navigator!" Luffy argued.
"Fine, I'll do it. Your one high maintenance captain, you know that?" Zoro sighed before he smirked then he turned to Usopp. "Alright, Usopp let's go."
"Okay!" Usopp nodded. Luffy turned to his twin.
"Aya, I want you to go with them," He told her. "Zoro and Usopp could use an extra hand."
"Fine, I agree they could use some help," Aya sighed, agreeing and smirked. "But, the next one, you owe me fight!"
"Then it's a deal!" Luffy grinned back.
"The ship's ready, big bro Zoro!" Yosaku shouted.
"What about you?" Zoro asked.
"I should probably stick around here until I get things settled with the restaurant, you know what I mean?" Luffy told him.
"Well be careful, the situation here could get really bad, really fast." Zoro said.
"Yeah, you got that right." Luffy nodded.
"DON KRIEG! THE MAN WHO DESTROYED OUR FLEET IS BACK!" One of the crewmates exclaimed. "WHAT WE GONNA DO?!"
"It's...it's him!" Zoro stared in shock.
"Who's that?" Luffy asked.
"That's the man I've been looking for," Zoro answered. "Hawkeye Mihawk."
"So that's Mihawk," Aya murmured, watching the pirate sail up closer.
"Yeah, the greatest swordsman." Zoro replied, with an eager smirk on his face.
"That's got to be the guy who destroyed Krieg's ship. He sunk 50 pirate ships out in the Grand Line all by himself!" Patty shouted.
"Looks like he came back to finish the job. But, is that all he wants?" a cook shouted.
"Wait a minute, he just looks like any ordinary man. He doesn't appear to have any special weapons with him," Another cook questioned.
"He carries his on his back," Zeff replied.
"That's impossible!" Patty exclaimed in disbelief. "He couldn't have destroyed a galleon like that using nothing but a sword!"
"Hawkeye Mihawk is a true master," Zeff answered. "He is without a doubt the greatest swordsman in the world."
"I never thought that I would meet him soon. My time's come, for me to fulfill my promise." Zoro gulped, gripping the hilt of his swords, tensely.
"Promise? What promise?" Aya asked. But, Zoro didn't answer her, still focused on the pirate warlord ahead of him.
"Y-You monster! Why are you doing this to us?!" One of the Krieg's crew shouted at Mihawk. "What the hell have we ever do to you?!"
"Just killing time," Mihawk simply replied.
"Bastard!" One of the crewmates fired at him but Mihawk was unharmed.
"What!? I missed! But, I aimed straight for him!" The crew stared in shock and in fear.
"He diverted them," Zoro answered, standing behind them. "He changed the course of the bullet using the tip of his sword." Several of Krieg's men moved back, shock to see him standing near them.
"Hold on! Who do you think you are?!" One demanded.
"He's got three swords, it couldn't be!" Another said, seeing Zoro's swords.
"I've never seen a sword handled so gently but with such grace," Zoro said, looking at Mihawk.
"There's no strength in sword-play based on force," Mihawk replied.
"Did you also use that sword to slice up this ship?" Zoro asked.
"I did." Mihawk answered.
"Then it's true, you're the best!" Zoro smirked. "I set sail for only one reason, to meet you!"
"And what is your goal?" Mihawk questioned.
"To beat you!" Zoro declared. He pulled out all of his three swords.
"How foolish..." Mihawk smirked as he scoffed.
"You got spare time, so let's do this!" Zoro said.
"Woah, no way! It's Roronoa Zoro! It's Zoro the three swords style!" One of the Krieg pirates shouted.
"It is?!" Another one exclaimed.
"Really? The pirate hunter?" Krieg huffed.
"He's a what?" Sanji asked in disbelief as well.
"Luffy, you better hurry! The Going Merry is about to sail right out of sight!" Usopp shouted. But, Luffy was more focused on Zoro and Mihawk.
"A fight? You're a weak pitiful creature," Mihawk said. He stood up and from out of thin air he appeared on Krieg's damaged ship, standing not too far off from Zoro. The two stared at each other, narrowing their eyes. "If you are a competent swordsman then we shall see the disparity in our abilities even before we cross swords. I must ask you, why you challenge me? Could it be courage, or is it simply or ignorance?"
"My ambition drives me! Also I made a promise that intend to keep," Zoro told him.
"The greatest swordsman in the world going up against Roronoa Zoro, two masters of swordplay, what kind of a fight is this going to turn out to be?" Patty murmured.
"There isn't a person alive who can defeat but bro!" Johnny shouted. "He's already the best in the world!"
Mihawk reached and pulled out a small hidden dagger from his cross necklace. "Funny, what do you think you're going to do with that?" Zoro asked.
"It'll be more than adequate. After all, you wouldn't kill a fly with a cannon would you?" Mihawk replied. "You may have quite the reputation on the East Blue, but that doesn't mean much to me. This sea is by far the weakest of the four. Unfortunately, I don't carrying blades smaller than this one."
"I have heard just about enough of your attitude," Zoro growled, gritting his white sword tightly between his teeth. "Now, you die!" He charged at Mihawk.
"You have no idea how big the world really is!" Mihawk shouted.
"Onigiri!" Zoro swung his swords but they were held back. "What the-!" He stared in shock, seeing his swords were being held back by Mihawks small dagger.
"Zoro!" Luffy shouted.
"What? Big bro's Onigiri was stopped?!" Johnny shouted.
"But, that's crazy! That attack never fails to stop an enemy!" Yosaku shouted. "What's going on here?!"
"I can't move my swords! What has he done!?" Zoro murmured. "No one's has been able to defend against that technique. He stopped it with a pocket knife. No! This can't be happening! He can't be this much better than me! There's no way our skills are this far apart!" He pulled back his swords and tried to attack Mihawk again. "I am not that far behind the world's strongest!"
But, each slice and blow that the swordsman landed on Mihawk was deflected with ease, bouncing off from the dagger that the pirate lord wielded. Mihawk pushed Zoro back as he kicked him.
"You're just toying with him, right? Fight for real, big bro!" Yosaku shouted.
"Big bro!" Johnny shouted.
"He can't be that much greater than me!" Zoro growled, getting back up. He charged at Mihawk again with all his strength, slashing wildly.
"Such ferocious sword play," Mihawk replied.
"How could he defend against Zoro's three sword style with just one small knife?" Aya asked.
"He's more of a monster with a blade than even the great Zoro!" One of Krieg's men shouted.
I did not devote my entire life into swordsmanship to be dispatched by a toy like this! Zoro panted, sweat now dripping down from his face, glaring up at Mihawk. However, Mihawk stepped to the side as Zoro threw another attack. He landed a blow on the back of Zoro's neck.
To become the world's strongest! I have to defeat this man, for her... Zoro stood wobbling as he gripped his swords, facing Mihawk. He tried to strike again but Mihawk dodge again. Exhausted, Zoro fell onto the ground.
"What is it then? What weight do you carry upon your shoulders?" Mihawk asked. "Speak up, weakling!"
"How dare you call him weakling!? You'll pay for that!" Johnny shouted, angrily.
"We'll teach you lesson!" Yosaku shouted as well. The two were about to intervene.
"No! Yosaku, Johnny! Get back here!" Aya shouted.
"Just stay put!" Luffy shouted as well. The two grabbed the two bounty hunters before they could jump off from the ship and slammed their heads against each other, holding the two bounty hunters down.
"Luffy, Aya..." Usopp whispered.
"No, I won't lose! I refuse to be defeated!" Zoro shouted, charging at Mihawk. "Tiger drop!" Mihawk had plunged his dagger into Zoro's chest, just as the swordsman was about to launch his attack.
"You are defeated but yet you won't step back, why not?" Mihawk questioned, in disbelief.
"I don't know, but I will not fall," Zoro panted. "Even if a retreat a single step I would be shattering the promise I made. I can't run. I would lose my honor. You see, without that there would be nothing left for me."
"That's what defeat is," Mihawk raised an eyebrow.
"Then I won't accept defeat," Zoro smirked.
"Then you'll die."
"I'd rather die than give up!" Zoro exclaimed.
"Sir, state your name," Mihawk answered, putting away his dagger into his necklace.
"I am Roronoa Zoro!" the swordsman declared.
"I'll remember it. No one as strong as you had come around in quite some time," Mihawk said. He pulled out his giant black sword from his back. "So as a swordsman courtesy, I'll use the world's strongest black sword to finish you."
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Zoro said. So this is it, in order to be the world's strongest. I'll defeat you!
The two charged at each other and sliced. Blood splattered in the air. Two of Zoro's swords were shattered, except the white one in his mouth. A large gash was sliced across Zoro's chest as he fell onto his knees. I lost...Never in my life could I imagine this. So this is the power of the greatest in the world...Zoro stood up, placing his swords back into their sheaths and turned around, facing Mihawk. He spread his arms out, waiting for him to attack.
"But, why?" Mihawk stared in shock.
"Scars on the back of a swordsman are shame," Zoro smirked, answering him.
"Fine." Mihawk replied. He struck Zoro down with his giant sword. Luffy and Aya, along with everyone else watched in horror and shock seeing the swordsman was defeated.
"ZOROOO!" Luffy cried out. Zoro fell back, falling into the ocean.
"You shouldn't rush things, young man." Mihawk stated.
"Zoro!" Usopp shouted.
"Big bro!" Johnny shouted.
"NOOO!" Aya cried out. She ran and jumped, diving right into the ocean after the fallen swordsman.
This is insane. His opponent was way out of his league. How the fight would end was clear from the start. Why chose death?! Sanji stared in shock.
"Damn him..." Luffy growled, glaring at Mihawk.
"Big bro!" Yosaku shouted. He and Yosaku jumped in as well, following after Aya, to recover Zoro. luffy shot out his arms and launched himself, hurling straight at Mihawk. The cooks and the Krieg pirates watched in shock and disbelief.
"He must be some kind of freak!" One of them shouted.
"So that loud mouth little twerp has the power of a devil fruit," Krieg murmured. Mihawk stepped to the side and Luffy missed. Luffy crashed head first into some wood, getting his head stuck.
"Are you that young warrior's comrade? I'm impressed with you not interfering," Mihawk said, but also a little surprised to see Luffy had devil powers as well. "There's nothing to be upset about, your friend will live." Luffy pulled his head out from the wreckage to see Aya had came out from the water with Zoro, along with Johnny and Yosaku.
"Zoro!" Luffy called out.
"Come on let's hurry up and get him out of the water!" Usopp shouted, running over to the group as they were pulled aboard the ship. "I got some medicine!"
"It's far too early for you to die. My name is Hawkeye Mihawk!" Mihawk shouted out loud. "You're strong but these is much for you to learn. No matter how many years it takes, I will hold this title, the greatest in the world, and wait for you. Until that day, you must hone your skills then SEEK ME OUT RORONOA ZORO!"
"Zoro, say something, anything!" Aya pleaded.
"Not just anyone can earn the regard of Hawkeye Mihawk," Zeff hummed to himself.
"You, what is your goal?" Mihawk asked turning to Luffy.
"To be the king," Luffy declared. Mihawk said nothing before turning his head back over to Aya. "And what of her?"
"She is going to be queen." Luffy stated.
"Your ambitions are even loftier than your friend," Mihawk smirked. "That's quite a task."
"Yeah, you just let me worry about that," Luffy frowned, sticking his tongue at the pirate warlord.
"He's alive!" Aya shouted in relief. Zoro coughed out some water. Usopp was cleaning up the swordsman's injury as he place some medicine on the wound. "He was just unconscious." Zoro raised his arm up, holding his white sword in the air.
"Zoro!" Luffy called out.
"Luffy, Aya can you both hear me? I'm sorry for disappointing you. I know that you need nothing less than the greatest swordsman in the world. I let you both down, please forgive me." Zoro declared out as he cried, coughing out some blood as well.
"Zoro, you don't need to say anymore," Aya tried to stop him. She placed her hand on top of his. "You need to rest. Save your strength." Zoro shook his head.
"I solemnly swear from this moment forward, that I will never lose again! Until the day comes and I defeat him And take his title! I will NEVER NEVER be defeated! IS THAT OKAY, KING AND QUEEN OF THE PIRATES?!"
Both Luffy and Aya stared in shock at the swordsman's declaration.
"Yep!" Luffy grinned.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Aya smiled as well.
"You're a good team," Mihawk said, getting back on his boat. "I hope to see you again someday."
"Hey, Hawkeye!" Krieg called out. "I was under the impression that you would come here and take my life. Weren't you here to kill Don Krieg, ruler of the East Blue?"
"The thought had crossed my mind but I had enough fun for one day," Mihawk replied. "So I'm going home to get some rest."
"I don't care if you've had enough. I haven't even gotten started," Krieg shouted. He fired at the pirate lord. "NOW IT'S TIME TO DIE!"
"You just won't learn will you?" Mihawk slashed the bullets as well as the sea, creating a huge wave. As the smoke and mist cleared, Mihawk was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn, he escaped!" Krieg growled. Luffy quickly launched back onto the Baratie, startling some of the cooks.
"Usopp, Aya, go on ahead. I'll leave Nami to the two of you!" Luffy called out.
"Roger that! Don't you worry about a thing!" Usopp shouted back. "Zoro, Aya and I are going to get her right back! And make sure you get that cook to join our crew! And then we'll finally set sail on the Going Merry to the Grand Line!"
"Yeah, let's do it!" Luffy shouted back.
"Alright men, we ran into a little distraction from our plan, but the real fight starts now!" Krieg shouted. Luffy turned to Zeff.
"Hey pops, can I stop doing these chores if I get these pirates out of here?" he asked the old cook.
"Suit your self."