They Don't Know About Us

Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to They Don't Know About Us! I do hope that you are enjoying this fic! Thank you all for all the comments and kudos! I really do appreciate them all!

If you read the original Chapter 41 (here or in We Are (Family)) you will recognize how similar this chapter is! I decided to go ahead and mix the two ideas into one because I got hit with an idea and I think it's going to play out really well. This is more focused on Mihawk for the moment. I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!

Chapter Forty-Four: Dejavu (by AAA)

Chapter Summary: Mihawk finds himself up against Luca in a fight as Luca challenges him. Meanwhile, Shanks finds out more information regarding the fight Mihawk is about to face as he's recalled back to Purgatory by Teach.

"Let me kick his ass." Luffy hissed.

"You're protecting the man who was barely around for you, your brother, or your sweet mother growing up?" Luca questioned, tilting his head as his eyes settled on Luffy.

Mihawk could feel the anger growing on Ace as he started to march forward, a snarl on his face, "You don't know anything about him!" Ace went to move his arm, stopping as Mihawk grabbed his forearm. "Papa—"

"Do not engage this man." Mihawk ordered.

Luca kneeled down, chuckling, "Good choice, Hawkeyes." He stated, twirling his fingers as there was that soft glow on his palm. "You must really believe that I am a terrible man."

Mihawk narrowed his gaze. Were they supposed to think he was some Saint? He was practically the Grim Reaper in the flesh.

"What is your problem with us!?" Marco exclaimed, "You tried to kill Commander Rouge!"

Luca's smirk only got bigger. "Rouge and Mihawk both are undeserving of what this world has given them." Ace let his fire cease from his hands as Mihawk dropped his hand. The shock was enough that Ace had stood down and that Mihawk didn't need to worry about the pregnant Omega lunging forward. "What kind of mother chooses to return back to a crew and leave her son behind?" That statement was about Rouge. Mihawk knew that. It confused him. How did Luca know this? Now, Luca's attention was back on Mihawk. "What kind of father chooses power over his family? A job as a Government lap dog instead of being with his mate and children?"

Ace shook his head, "That doesn't answer the question to why the hell Papa would try to kill you." The Omega stated.

Luca had looked back at him now. "On an island in the East Blue, twenty-two years ago. Just before the execution of Gol D. Roger, I met Red-Haired Shanks for the first time." He explained, "There was an incident at a bar there and Shanks had shown me such kindness. I used to despise violence. Only cleaning up the mistakes of a certain someone. But I saw the way that these men were eyeing him. Long story short, Hawkeyes walked in when I had to shove Shanks out of the way from getting hurt and we landed in a quite… unappealing situation. Hawkeyes shoved a sword through my back. Without even knowing what truly happened."

Mihawk looked away from Luca and down to where Shanks was laying. He didn't remember any of that. "I don't remember that." Mihawk growled. He paused. For the first time?

Luca hummed. "Possibly, but I remember it all. Shanks was the one who tended to my injuries as Hawkeyes went into a rage. I still have the scar on my back as proof. Sure, I'll give him credit for thinking he was protecting his loved one, but he lashed out without even caring for a life. He had been just millimeters from sending that very blade through Shanks' chest too. He was so lost in his own mind that he could have killed him too."

Mihawk was trying to remember anything about this event that Luca was referring to, but he just didn't remember a thing about it. The only other person who could confirm if it happened was Shanks. Which he couldn't say a word at the moment. Mihawk knew there were times when people completely forgot what happened whenever they were so lost in their instincts. If this was true, it was back at a time that Mihawk wasn't as masterful over his instincts. It could be entirely possible.

"Sounds to me like he was thinking something bad was happening to Shanks and he reacted." Marco hissed. "So what? You got stabbed in the back."

Mihawk felt his eyebrow twitch. That didn't seem like the right thing to say. Luca's face warped, a more sadistic look coming to it. "I just want to draw his blood, the same that he has done for me." Luca drawled, lifting his hand up to direct it had Mihawk.

Dragon had moved, forcing Mihawk behind him. Mihawk was shaking in anger now. Trying to contain everything, but there was a flash of red in his eyes. He could feel the sting in his eye. The impending rage that he could feel coming. This bastard was toying with him. Using Shanks as a way to do it. "So, you did this to Shanks because of me?"

Luca chuckled, straightening his back as he tilted his head to the side, an almost maniac look in his eye, "No, actually. Me putting him to sleep had nothing to do with you. You are just an upside. I respect Red-Haired Shanks the most out of everyone here. He's unlike any pirate I've ever met. One who only cared to see the world. Doesn't engage in senseless battles." He paused, sighing as he tilted his head again, his own eyes flashing red for a moment, "What does life mean to you, Hawkeyes?"

There was that question again.

"Answer wrong and everyone here dies." Luca stated. "Marineford has shown me enough about many of you, but Hawkeyes had a choice for that War. Participate or go to Impel Down. He chose to fight alongside the Marines."

"He saved my life!" Ace snapped, the flames erupting on his shoulders and hand. The power usage didn't fully grab Luca's attention. Though he had gained a side eye. Like he was watching to see what Ace would do. "If he hadn't acted when he did, I would have died! It took me a moment to see back then! I was so pissed at him to see him with the Warlords, but if he was Impel Down, there would have been nothing he could do! Locked away while I was being executed!"

Luca smiled. This time it almost looked like a genuine smile. It looked almost fond. It was strange. Like whiplash watching the various forms of moods he was flipping between. It was like a dual personality. One that was soft. Empathetic. The other harsh and cold. It was almost like light and dark fighting together and fading into one thing. "Yet Straw Hat Luffy and his crew broke into Impel Down with just the the sliver of hope of finding his brother. Breaking out many of the prisoners before heading straight for a war. I have a good idea that if Hawkeyes ended up in Impel Down, he wouldn't have stayed there. You have my respect as a Swordsman, but as a man, you don't deserve such a thing."

"He asked me the same question." Rouge muttered, turning completely to look up at Luca. "You want to know what life means?! It's not the same for everyone! There is no right or wrong answer!"

Luca hummed. "Yeah, and you're just a mother who abandoned her child in favor of a crew that isn't her blood."

Mihawk couldn't stop Ace as he dodged past him. A glare in his eyes and a snarl on his face as Mihawk watched the crescent of flames on his back momentarily. That had happened at Marineford. Ace was taking this just as personally. Ace saw the Whitebeard Pirates as family. They were. Just a giant found family. That could be said for any pack. It had Mihawk thinking. What did this man go through in his life that he would have such animosity towards blood relatives splitting up for time periods? "Blood doesn't necessarily mean family! This crew is my family just as much as my parents or my brothers are! What gives you the to condemn someone to death when you don't even understand for yourself?!"

Luca looked amused for a second before he was suddenly moved and was standing next to Rouge. His arm wrapped around her shoulders as his fingers started twisting through the strands of her hair. Rouge looked shocked as she turned her head to look at him. Mihawk felt his heart practically stop. This was not good. "This is supposed to be between me and you." Mihawk hissed. "What relevance does Rouge have if you're here for me?"

The movement had stunned them as their weapons moved to him there. Whitebeard growled, turning his Murakumogiri to face Luca. The Alpha simply turned his head, giving a smirk to the yonko. "Trust me. I'm aware. That's what makes the Whitebeard Pirates so great. A very large found family ruled by the patriarch that is Edward Newgate." His attention turned away from Whitebeard and to Shanks. "Say, you never answered my question from before Commander Rouge."

Mihawk paused. Why was he referring to her as Commander? It was a respect thing among pirates to use someone's title within a crew. This man wasn't a pirate. At least from what he knew. He paused as he noticed that soft glow on his hand again and as he twisted his head, he could see how bright his eyes were shining. Rouge almost looked like she couldn't speak. Mihawk had to think quickly. He had to get Rouge out of this. Yet, his hand was on her. He could activate his power at any time. "You don't understand anything about what happened back then." Rouge finally said. "Why I made the decision I did."

"Do tell." Luca hummed. Twisting some more of her hair. "Do you even understand the concept of what his life might have been like if you had just… stayed? I've seen his memories. I know exactly what he felt like every single time you two left each other. Yet, there were these moments he was so happy for you. Seeing your bounty. He used to keep a bounty poster of you under his pillow." Rouge froze. Her eyes widening as the air caught in her throat. It was like Luca was trying to get her to confess. "What made you leave him behind for all these years? Fear?"

Rouge gritted her teeth, her eyes falling on Shanks for a moment. "Everything I did… was for him!" Rouge exclaimed, turning her head, and reaching up and grabbing Luca's hand. "If you want to kill me for allowing him ten years with his father so, be it! I never understood back then why my instincts kept telling me that he needed to stay with the Roger Pirates, but when Roger told me he was sick… I understood! I could have been with the Roger Pirates… yes. But my child. My son told me to return. He knew that at any moment, I would have gone for him, and I did. No matter if we were apart, he was still my son. I would destroy this entire world if it meant granting his happiness. Ensuring his life."

Luca hummed, pulling away from Rouge slightly. He almost looked pleased. The Whitebeard Pirates looked prepared to move in. Marco was already moving around, trying to get out of Luca's sight which the other man had caught notice of almost immediately. "The only thing that can bring Shanks back to his body is me. Half of him still resides within my power." Luca stated, "If you kill me, he won't ever come back. Would you risk it?" The Alpha turned to Whitebeard again, his smile warping back into a sadistic smirk. "How much do you care about your nakama? Would you allow her son to die out of anger for the things I'm saying?"

Mihawk just watched for the moment. It was like he was toying with them. Trying to get them to attack. Whitebeard had to have picked up on it. From the way that the Alpha yonko pulled his weapon back, slamming it down before saying, "Drop your weapons." Letting his voice boom over the deck.

"Oyaji!" Izou gasped.

"Just do it." Whitebeard confirmed.

Luca gave a low chuckle, "Thought so." He turned back towards Shanks, a soft smile returning, "What are you looking at right now, Red-Hair?" Mihawk kept his gaze locked to him. Surprised that he had let Rouge go. Maybe, there was some sort of heart in there somewhere. Rouge had dropped to her knees, exhaling sharply for a moment.

Luca made it back to Shanks, kneeling down by the Omega with that glow on his palm. For a moment, an unfamiliar scene flashed before his mind before he was lunging forward. Grabbing the other Alpha's hand just as it landed on Shanks' chest. Luca sighed, "You shouldn't have done that."

Within seconds, Mihawk was thrown backwards, pushed between all of them before he was hitting the figure head of the ship. "Papa!" Ace and Luffy screamed at the same time. He couldn't even tell what power had blown him back just that his body suddenly erupted completely in pain.

Mihawk stumbled as he tried to get back up to his feet. Almost like he couldn't stay standing before he was catching himself with his hands. "What the hell did you do to me?"

Luca smirked, jumping, and landing in the open space that was on the deck, staring Mihawk down. "I want to play a game."

Mihawk looked up, snarling, "Bastard."

"If you can defeat me, I'll release him up." Luca stated. "If not, you'll die. A life for a life."

Luca chuckled as Mihawk got back to his full height. The Alpha cursed to himself as he swayed on his feet slightly. Twisting his heel to stabilize himself as he reached for Yoru. Ignoring the pain in his hand from the wound that Shanks had inflicted. No. It wasn't Shanks. It was this man just using Shanks' body to catch him up.

"Oh God." Rouge whispered. "His power. He used it on Mihawk."

Mihawk stumbled back again as he adjusted to the weight of Yoru with his wounded hand, eyes locked on the man. "What life means to me? Nothing if Shanks and my children are not in it." Without another thought, he moved forward.

X

Something was wrong. Shanks could feel it. He could feel his heart racing as he looked around. One second his head had been splitting into pain and the next he was here. Standing on the flaming ground that had been previously the sight of the fight between Teach and Ace. His heart was racing as he looked around. Did he just imagine the last day? That none of what he had experienced actually happened. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing. His instincts screaming at him that this was completely off.

The Omega looked around again, trying to see what was setting his instincts off. "What's going on, now?" He knew this wasn't right. It couldn't be. He wouldn't make up something like this. That he had just made-up seeing Lacey, Roger, and Shay. That the power he had been under was just purely his imagination. Something was off. The way that his body had been fighting against him. Moving on its own as he was forced to watch himself attack Mihawk. The way he screamed for it to stop, but his own voice wasn't working.

He had injured Mihawk. He had attacked him. Was he truly worth all of this trouble? Mihawk had just been coming to check on him. He was positive on that. No matter if they fought. Got angry with each other. Mihawk always made sure that he was okay. Even waited for a bit to give him time to himself. This was wrong. He felt the tears stinging his eyes. He let himself fall underneath a power that allowed him to be used against his own mate.

"Why is this happening?" He questioned to himself, reaching up and curling his fingers into his hair. Feeling the guilt that was starting to eat away at him.

"I called you here." Shanks felt his heart skip a beat from that voice. There was no possible way. It wasn't right.

What was he doing here?

The Omega turned, seeing Teach standing there. Not an injury on him as he stood among the flames. "Teach?"

"Red-Hair." Teach hummed. It almost sounded too soft and gentle. It sent a chill down his spine as he let go of his hair, looking at shock to see the Alpha standing before him. He was dead. Was he still locked someone in this purgatory between life and death? It would make sense to how his body was getting controlled, but he was still conscious.

"What the hell do you want?" Shanks hissed. "What is going on?"

The Alpha was looking right at him. It was a soft look unlike the obsessive one that he had be so used to seeing for the longest time. "I need you to listen to me."

"And why would I do that?" The Omega growled.

"Because it could mean life or death."

Shanks paused, eyes widening as he took a step back. Letting the words sink in. This Alpha had tormented him for years, and now he wanted to help? "How can I trust a thing you say?" Shanks questioned. "You threatened the lives of both of my sons! Kidnapped me! Took my bond from Mihawk away!" He could feel all the frustration boiling over as he lashed out, his hand moving and hitting Teach directly across the jaw. He could actually feel the sting in his hand and the red blossoming over the Alpha's face from where he had made contact.

"I deserved that." Teach muttered, reaching up and touching his jaw just where Shanks' hand had been. "The issue is what is about to happen."

Shanks froze. This Teach wasn't acting like the one he knew. Well, at least, the one he had come to know. "What are you talking about?" He needed information right now and apparently Teach had some for him. Teach was observant and a lot smarter than people gave him credit for. If he was telling the truth, he needed to hear him out.

Teach sighed, looking around before the island disappeared around them, leaving them standing on the deck of the Oro Jackson. For a moment, he thought about the safety and security that he felt being on the ship.

The Alpha walked away from Shanks, looking down at the ocean. Though next to them was the burning island. It wasn't where the Oro Jackson was now. Shanks knew that much. "The man you did this to you is… my elder brother." Shanks was shocked. Not saying a word as Teach looked back at him. "He did the right thing by me. Disconnecting me from the one thing in this world that meant everything." With everything he had found out since all of this, it had been him. "Luca. He is a powerful ally. An even more powerful opponent. He is not someone to be underestimated. He will use anything and everything to rile up his opponent, but the second he makes skin to skin contact, he's already won. That power of his cannot be stopped easily. Essentially, he can control life or death." Shanks had already figured that out. After speaking with Roger and Shay. Even Lacey had the same information. "What he had put you under was an awakened ability. Those he puts into eternal sleep essentially give him access to their bodies. No one has ever survived it. Except for you." That wasn't new information either aside from what he had mentioned about the control aspect.

The Omega needed as much information as he could here and Teach had it. He sighed, walking over to where Teach was standing and placing his hands on the rail. "What are you saying, Teach? What does he want?"

The Alpha exhaled sharply. "Luca has always been obsessed with the concept of life and death. We don't share the same father, but we do have the same mother. We are built the same. They won't be able to kill him like a normal human, Shanks. Even if they can strike him down. He'll just get back up." He stopped again, sighing as he looked directly at Shanks, "You need to understand, my brother has lost all belief in what it means to follow one's heart and desires. How one can be away from their loved ones, but still be able to love and care for them."

The Omega hummed. He was starting to understand now. "It's personal for him."

Teach nodded. Shanks paused as Teach reached out, reaching for the necklace that was around Shanks' neck. The Omega felt the air catch in his throat for the moment. "I never knew my father but Luca… he used to be gentle and kind. His greatest asset was how protective he was. He used to be a pacifist before… he wasn't." Teach paused as he dropped the pendant, looking down at the sea as he placed his hand over his chest. "Our mother was promiscuous… she didn't value her children. I was young when she left. Luca's father took us both in, however, he wasn't a kind man. Every time he got angry he would take it out on me. Blamed me for why his wife left. Our mother wasn't built to be a mom. His father was never meant to be a father either. He couldn't feel emotion. He only saw the world for himself. Not what it had to offer."

"Why are you telling me this?" Shanks muttered. Why was he feeling bad for Teach?

"You need to understand why Luca is the way he is in order to defeat him." Teach went on. "Luca used to get between me and his father. Trying to get him to stop. Until the day that his father almost killed his own son and then turned on me. His father was going to kill me, and Luca took a knife to the back to keep it from happening." Shanks felt the air catch in his throat. "There's only one way I know to stop him. He will kill anyone who dares to get in the way of his target." Teach explained, "He's obsessed over taking down Mihawk. He believes that Hawkeyes has wronged him. He views Hawkeyes in the same way that he sees his own father. Luca has never known love or what it feels like. Every person he's ever killed have been people who have harmed their supposed loved ones… or abandoned them. He doesn't see what is truly there between Hawkeyes and the rest of you."

Shanks almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. Teach was concerned for Mihawk? The same person that Teach believed didn't deserve Shanks. "Teach, I don't understand."

"You're in love with him." Teach muttered, "He's the father of your children."

"Teach…" The Omega whispered.

The Alpha turned to look at him again, "Within the final moments of my life, I realized that I valued your life over my own. That I was willing to die to make sure that you lived." Shanks didn't even know what to say. Let alone what to think. This was unaltered honesty that was coming from Teach. At least, he thought so. "I had been obsessed with the idea of having you… and Ace for my own. The two people in this world that never once saw my uncanny abilities as a fault. As someone who was just human. It made me want to have the two of you by my side, because it made me feel good. I never thought of what you two wanted." Teach sighed, shaking his head, "It sounds odd that only hours after my death, I've come to this conclusion. I had so much with my life with the Whitebeard Pirates, but I wanted my own crew. Wanted the power of the Yami Yami no Mi. Obsessed with the idea of obtaining everything I ever wanted. Obtaining unimaginable power."

"Everyone can have a moment of clarity." Shanks replied.

Teach looked back at him, a smile coming to his face, "You were mine. There's something special about that family of yours, Red-Hair. Maybe it's a D thing. Maybe it's just who you are. Even Straw Hat had shown courage and bravery and everything that I had seen in you."

Shanks couldn't help but smile at the mention of Luffy, "So, why did you bring me here?"

Teach turned to him completely, "My life will not truly end until the moment my physical heart had been destroyed. My body will continue to maintain itself until that moment. I'm not truly dead until that moment." He explained. Shanks didn't know what to say again. Yet, Teach was standing here before him in this purgatory. Telling him how to kill him permanently. "I want to fulfill a final wish. My wish was for you to be brought back to your life. That you would no longer be under his control."

"Teach—" Before he could finish talking, Teach reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling it up to his chest over where his heart was.

"Allow me to be in love with you one more time." Teach stated. "Grant me that, and I will fight to protect the life of Dracule Mihawk. Of your crew. Of your family. Of my former crew. Your life. I owe you that much."

The Omega pulled his hand away, pausing as he noticed that he had a human heart in his hand now. "What is this?" His mind flashed back to his bathroom for a moment as he blinked before the heart felt more solid in his hand.

Teach cackled. The same sadistic cackle from before that sent shivers down Shanks' spine. "Quite literally my heart. My life is in your hands. Hawkeyes will not win the fight my brother is about to bring. If Luca even so much as touches him. It's over."

Shanks didn't know if he wanted to believe that Teach was telling the truth. He didn't know what was happening in the world of the living. Could he go based off of Teach's word? Though, Teach sounded sincere. It was more confusing than when he had been lost in his own instincts on Teach's ship. The range of emotions he had felt.

"If you love him," Teach whispered, "I'm your best ally."

"Mihawk can take care of himself." Shanks whispered.

"Not if he's dead. He can't fight him if his powers aren't cancelled out. My brother's greatest flaw is… his reliance on his Devil Fruit." Shanks was starting to understand what Teach meant. This man's Devil Fruit was a dangerous one. Shanks never had a chance to fight back, which he had been unconscious, but if it was done by touch, all it would take is just the pad of a finger to activate. Teach's Yami Yami no Mi – if he was telling the truth about his body actually still being sustained – could cancel out that power. He could give them a fight chance, but could he risk it? Could he risk giving in? What if this was his only chance?

Shanks looked back down at the heart in his hand. "I don't think I can, Teach. You've put so many people through hell."

"I understand as much." The Alpha replied, "However, they managed to wake you up, but they weren't able to release your soul from this hell hole." Shanks looked up; eyes wide as Teach looked back out to the sea. "Luca's obsession with life also corresponds with the symbolism of nature itself. You should know by now that the elements of the world correspond with life and death. There is one thing that even that can't break."

The Omega looked away from Teach and out to the ocean. It clicked. Teach told him exactly how to break this curse or whatever he wanted to call it on him.

"They all want you back, Shanks. They wouldn't have all come to get you from me if they didn't." Teach went on. "Let me grant that one last time."

Shanks knew what he needed to do.

"Okay." He whispered, placing his hand back on Teach's chest. "Protect them all, Teach. Please. Every last one of them. If I can't fight…"

"Red-Hair, that is one more thing you need to know." Teach's mouth continued to move as Shanks' eyes widened. His mouth dropping open as he told Shanks another weakness that Luca had. He blinked and Teach was gone, leaving him alone.

Within seconds, his eyes were opening back up, revealing the deck of the Moby Deck to him. What the hell was that? His eyes widened as he looked up, seeing Mihawk versing that man. The two were clashed now. Meeting in the middle as Mihawk gave a determined growl. If even one moment that Luca touched Mihawk, this would be over in an instant. He was reliant on his power.

His mind felt clear. He didn't have the unwanted movement of his body. It seemed like for the moment. He was back in control of himself. He paused, Teach's last words ringing through his mind. He pushed himself up, no one noticing his movement. He reached out for his own discarded knife, bringing it up as he looked at it. Could he fully trust Teach's words? There was only one way to figure it out.

X

He could feel his fingers moving just like he had before. Before his eyes were opening and he found himself staring at the sky. Shanks had actually put his faith in him. The Alpha smirked, pushing himself up despite his body screaming at him. He reached up, touching his chest to notice the hole there was gone.

He flexed his hands, looking down at them as he activated his Devil Fruit to see the black smoke clouding over his palms. He stopped his power, looking around to see that he was on a familiar but unfamiliar ship.

The Oro Jackson.

So, his body had landed on the ship. What luck he had.

"For you." Teach muttered, cackling as he popped his back, the smirk coming to his face.

He would keep his promise. That much he agreed to. Anything after that, well, that was to be seen. He walked around the deck, realizing that he had fallen directly on the back of the ship. His eyes had settled on the Moby Dick almost immediately. Seeing the many people over the deck but his eyes settled on one person.

Luca.

"As promised."

X

He had noticed it almost immediately. The way that Luca almost appeared annoyed, even frantic, at the fact that he couldn't hit Mihawk with his hand. He was amazed that Luca hadn't activated his power that first time that Mihawk had messed up. Maybe he was keeping his word and wanting to keep it into a fair fight. Luca was fighting with just his hands. Hitting Yoru with his palms.

The Alpha couldn't give him the chance to get too close. It wasn't looking good for him. His hand was already severely weakened by the stab wound that was on it. It was making it more difficult to keep full control of his blade. He had to find a way to get Luca to waver in his attacks. To find an opening. Each strike he sent; the other Alpha was managing to block it. It was almost infuriating.

"Papa!" He could hear both Ace and Luffy calling out to him. It only pushed him on more. He had to win this. If he didn't win this, he didn't even want to think what would happen.

He gritted his teeth as he twisted his wrist and hand, the pain jolting through as he felt his grip on Yoru loosening. His eyes widened as he saw the inevitable moment the blade fell from his hand. Yoru was not easy to move around with one good hand. Luca had taken the opening, grinning as he muttered, "I win." His glowing palm moving towards Mihawk's chest.

"PAPA! NO!" Luffy screamed.

"Papa…" He heard from Ace. A soft mutter of disbelief. Maybe fear. It was hard to tell as he could hear his own heartbeat in his ears.

The moment was about to come.

Only, it didn't.

Mihawk stopped as he felt Luca's hand flat against his chest but nothing else came. No pain. No nothing. Luca's eyes suddenly widened as he let out a shout of pain. Grimacing as Mihawk felt warm liquid hitting his chest. He looked down to see the blood trailing down his chest, but it wasn't his own. The splash came next as he saw Luca's hand jerk.

"This…" Luca hissed, turning his head to look behind him. "How did you figure that out?!"

Mihawk looked up, seeing Shanks standing there. His hair falling into his face and shielding his eyes. He was back on his feet, but his eyes widened, and the air caught in his throat as he saw what Shanks was doing.

A knife was sticking through Shanks' hand. His other hand on the grip of the knife. A smirk was on his face as he finally looked up. "Shanks…" Mihawk whispered.

"This is why you don't use this technique often. Isn't it?" Shanks stated. "Anything that happens to me… will happen to you."

Luca growled, turning away from Mihawk, and starting for Shanks. Mihawk moved, grabbing Yoru as he started after Luca. He had managed to get between the two, moving to block Luca as he pulled out a special looking kind of blade. Shanks didn't waver from behind him. Showing no reaction. Mihawk twisted Yoru, going to use the blade to block.

It shocked him more when Luca was suddenly lifted off of his feet and pulled backwards. What the hell was happening?

"That bastard!" Luca shouted.

Mihawk followed Luca with his gaze. His stomach dropping as his eyes landed on the one person he believed to have died.

Marshall D. Teach.

As Luca got to Teach, Teach's hand landed on Luca's shoulder before his fist came down, hitting the other Alpha in the stomach before he was flying back across the deck and hitting the rail. He could only stand there as he watched Teach walk forward, despite the shocked exclamations. The way that Ace suddenly froze, muttering that it couldn't be possible. Law even saying that Teach should be dead.

Teach had ignored them all as he looked down at Luca.

"It's time to end this, brother."

Brother?!

"You're supposed to be dead." Luca hissed, stumbling back to his feet as the blood moved down his chin.

"Yet here I am." Teach shot back. "I have a promise to fulfill." Teach had moved, placing himself between the pirates and Luca. Almost blocking his path off as he stood there, keeping his head up. "You'll have to get through me to get to any of them."