Mihawk spent the next few days avoiding the Marines and asking around for passage. Most of the people were type lipped and cautious, but there were a few that were willing if he paid enough. It would be another three days before they left however so he would have to wait until then. The only plus to it would be that they were going in the direction that he needed to go.

He hummed and stepped back into the tavern, frowning when he saw that the same group of Marines that had been there were harassing the staff. The older woman, Bressa, was trying to get them to stop, but their slurred words and mocking were only getting more violent.

When one of the men slapped the younger girl, Elaina, he had enough. Mihawk stepped forward and caught the Marine's arm in a tight grip. "That's enough. I suggest you take your friends and leave." He spoke dryly eye narrowing.

"And who're you?" Was the scathing response as the man jerked his hand back and the whole group refocused their attention on him which was fine.

A deep sigh left him, "I am Dracule Mihawk. I think it best you and your friends leave. You're all drunk." He spoke slowly to them as if their intelligence was barely higher than a snails… which to be fair was probably accurate in this case.

The main leader's face grew red and he angrily swung his fist. It was sloppy and slow though, easily caught. Mihawk grabbed his wrist and then…

'Snap!' The arm broke.

The man screamed and just like that chaos broke out. They threw punches and hits that Mihawk called childish and slow. It was a very one sided fight that left them running out with their tails between their legs.

Mihawk sighed and grabbed one of the blue scarfs they'd left behind, wiping his hands clean of blood. He glance over to the women and nodded slightly, "I'll be on my way then. Thank you for the hospitality." He said and slipped out of the doors before they could say a word. It probably wouldn't have been a good word regardless after all…

He watched as a group of Marines rushed towards the tavern and stayed out of sight. Mihawk hummed to himself and grabbed what he needed as he went, heading for a small boat that must have been used for near shore fishing. It would do for now though as he packed it in with what he needed and then pushed off. All those lessons on how to navigate and be useful on a ship were now coming in hand.

Mihawk settled back and he grabbed an apple, taking a bite as he watched the island grow smaller and smaller in the distance. He let out a tired sigh that morphed into a smile as he felt fingers in his hair as the boat shifted and swayed.

"Already causing trouble?" Death asked as they formed across from Mihawk, covered in a dark cloak that obscured their features. They held a scythe in their hands, leaning on it as they watched Mihawk.

"A bit." He said and pulled out an envelope, watching as the raven silently formed from Death's shoulder and took the letter. Both of them watched as it darted off and grew small in the distance. "A letter… to a friend." He said in response to the silent question that he could feel.

He hummed and leaned back as his attention focused on Death. "Just be careful, little Master. While you cannot die… it still will not be pleasant for you to reform." Death added before vanishing like a wisp of smoke in the wind.

Mihawk sighed, "I know…" He said and got comfortable in the small boat, tugging a blanket across himself as the moon slowly rose in the sky. The young magician had faith in Death to keep him alive for the most part and wouldn't be so stressed about navigation. The tides would bring him where he needed.

Sock covered feet drug across the cold stone floor. It was just another night of aimless wandering for Harry. Really it wasn't anything special and he was always back before anyone else woke up. Not that it mattered since Ron was the only one who really spoke to him in the dorm. Still though…

A soft sigh left the young boy as he tugged the cloak tighter around himself. This year was turning out to be one of the worst since returning to this school. There was the pink toad of a lady, everyone thinking he was a liar, and then… the blame. The blame of Cedric's death that they put on him. As if he purposefully went out to kill the boy that had been slowly becoming a friend.

Really if they had just looked… had just asked him. It could have been handled, but it wasn't Dumbledore had interfered and then got his words in first making Harry look inept and ignorant. Then shipped him right back off into an abusive household with no hope of gaining any information.

"Come on Ron!" The harsh whisper brought him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see Ron and Hermione making their way to the Headmaster's office… at four in the morning…

He followed them hesitantly, staying far enough away as to not be caught by them. Harry watched as they ducked into a side room, door left ajar and he slipped in. Harry pressed to the side of the room and he watched as the two sat in front of Dumbledore with expressions he had never seen before on their faces.

"When are we getting paid? It's getting too dangerous to be around him and hard enough keeping everybody away." Ron snapped out with a nasty looking scowl on his face.

"And then books! You promised I would get the Potter Grimoire by now!" Hermione added in.

Harry felt cold fingers grip around his heart as he listened to their bickering… Listened to how the Headmaster assured that they would get everything of his… of how they would kill him after he married Ginny.

He looked down blankly before scuttling out of the room and down. Down the flights of stairs and down the many halls. He didn't stop until he slipped into the Slytherin dormitory and hissed his entrance. Harry climbed up the steps and he slipped into one of the rooms.

The cloak fell from his shoulders and he sat down on the edge of Draco's bed, head in his hands. "You were right… you were always right…"

Mihawk woke with a start, eyes remaining closed as he heard the chatter of a ship. He felt the boat dip and heard the telltale sign of someone jumping onto his little ship. When he felt the hand reaching, he grabbed it. Golden eyes pinned the old man in place with barely any effort.

"I was…just checkin' if you were alive s'all." He spoke brokenly, two teeth missing on the top right side as his eyes shown greedily.

"I am alive and you should be wise to get off my boat and leave me be. Lest you lose your life." He warned and tightened his grip, feeling the bones slide against each other.

The man cried out and an arrow thunked against the side of his boat. Mihawk looked at it and he gave a sound of annoyance before moving to his feet. He had seen the black flag fluttering above… and really he shouldn't have been surprised. The annoyance however was too great as he had been sleeping. While it wasn't a pleasant dream it still allowed him the memory of faces.

He tossed the man overboard and grabbed the rope, avoiding the few arrows they shot. Mihawk vaulted over the railing, sword drawn and looked over each person. All he saw was greedy hunger. They didn't care for anything but themselves and well… that just wouldn't do. What if they went after the Roger pirates after all? He just couldn't allow that.

And so… their fate was sealed.

Mihawk jumped to the small boat, leaving the ship to float on the edge of the island. The wood planks were blood soaked and quiet filled it from the loss of it's crew. He didn't truly care though. Not after living so long with Death and knowing that everything had it's end… save for them.

*Master!* The caw caught him off guard and he looked up, holding his arm out for the shadow raven that had delivered his letter.

He nodded and accepted the return, watching as the raven vanished into the shadows of the ocean. Mihawk sighed and directed the boat towards the sand beach before opening the letter that seemed hastily scrawled on.

'Mihawk! When I said keep in touch I didn't think it would be by bird! That's so cool! I wish you'd said goodbye though… it's been boring since you've gone and Buggy is giving me the cold shoulder. On the other hand though we are going to another island! Captain said it would be quite a few months before we hit Saboady though… but when we do that will mean we made it half way! Anyways, I hope we run across each other again! –Shanks'

Mihawk chuckled at the quick scrawl and he made sure to place the letter somewhere protected. The red head was… well he made for an interesting conversation and Death did say he should try and communicate more and so he was. He was doing his best at least.

He was brought out of his musing when the boat hit the sand. Mihawk hummed and he jumped out, dragging it further on the beach before stretching. There was a town on the other side of the island so he would have to start there and look for more transport. He was getting closer though… perhaps. He wasn't a hundred percent sure, but at least it wasn't further.

In hindsight… perhaps he should have stayed with the Roger Pirates for a bit.