Another sigh slipped from Mihawk's lips as he put the letter aside. Despite everything they went through together, Roger still refused to tell his crew about his illness. Even as they were nearing the end of their journey.

He leaned back in his seat, kicking his feet up on the table as he pulled out the second letter in his ever growing stack. He now hand letters from a good bit of people across the waters save for the Blue seas. He still hasn't had the time to travel to those, too worked up with everything going on in the Grandline.

That aside though, it seemed that both Shanks and Buggy were doing well for themselves. Growing into fine young men and he had no doubt that they'd be able to Captain their own ships someday and be great.

Then there was Marco and Newgate. The man was training his boy to be strong and was putting much on his too young shoulders, but it seemed to be for good reason. There'd been a clean out of his crew. Some of them being too brutal and uncaring for his family style crew.

Of course there was always Lupus, galavanting around the world with Draco and their newfound freedoms. It was enough to make him start laughing whenever he heard what new mischief the two got into. It was funny enough to him that Lupus complained about the tiger for all they were attached at the hip.

Mihawk chuckled to himself as he finished off his letters. He would be sure to write replies within the next two days.

He had finally found his home so he was enjoying his short vacation of sort among Death's isle. It was calming and he had missed it more than he thought he would after the handful of years that had passed. Though everything was still in good order so he didn't have to go through paperwork and the like.

A satisfied hum left him and he slowly stood to his feet, moving along the office room to the large bay windows so he could see his people through the clear glass. The smile that pulled on his lips softened as he watched the daily hustle and bustle of his people, uncaring for the world outside which suited him just fine. They weren't fit for it after all, meant only to enjoy their second lives to the fullest.

"Master."

He hummed and held out his arm for the Shadow Raven. The bird had the same sour personality as his late Potion's Master and it hadn't passed him by to name it as they'd be friends no doubt had Severus lived on.

"A message. Roger wants you to go to him to meet someone."

Mihawk frowned a moment before nodding, letting the raven fly off back into the shadows to do who knows what. It wouldn't be the first time one of his people called upon him through Severus, but it was the first time that Roger did with purpose.

He sighed and ignored the edging voice of Asmo in the back of his head, teasing about the fact he would be able to see his red head again. The demon was an absolute nightmare when it came to Mihawk's non existent dating life after all, driving him crazy with this and that.

Mihawk grabbed Yoru, slipping the sword back along his back before heading to the shadows. He wrapped his arm around the invisible rope tying him to the Captain and let it lead him straight to where he needed to be with little wasted time.

The loud cacophony of noise that met him, however, did little to lighten his mood.

He shook his head at the partying Pirates, sliding past the crowds even as he felt the heavy slaps on his back and screamed greetings in his ears.

It was easy to find Roger in the back with an ale in hand, but what stopped him short was the pretty woman who sat beside him. Her eyes were filled with mirth and affection as she looked at the Captain and Mihawk found himself wondering if that was why Roger called him. To bond the two together in life and death.

"Roger." Mihawk said and he waved his hand, creating a barrier between them and the noise as he sat, the woman's eyes growing larger.

"Mihawk! I knew you'd be here!" The man exclaimed happily and he took her soft hand in his own. "This is Portgas D. Rouge." His grin was the widest he'd seen it as he introduced the young lady.

"A pleasure," Mihawk bowed his head to her and looked between the two in amusement. "I never thought I would see the day where the sea isn't the only one holding your heart." He added and sat down across from the two lovebirds. It was nice to see, but he did worry for them both. Unless Roger went to his lands... then it wouldn't be so much a happy ending for the two of them.

"Oh no, the pleasure is mine. Roger told me so much about you!" Rouge said with a smile of her own and she shooed Roger off of her so that she could turn more towards Mihawk. "Thank you so much for keeping him and the boys safe."

"Hey! I am perfectly capable on my own!" Roger squaked in indignation even though his eyes shown in amusement.

Mihawk chuckled and he shook his head, "It's no problem. I consider them family after all." He said softly and looked around the bar after the people he'd become to care for and accept. No doubt they would all be given the option upon their deaths to join the undying lands where they could live a life free of pains and hunger.

"Then of course that makes us family as well." She said happily and leaned into Roger with a smile that turned slightly sad. It was enough to dampen Mihawk's own mood.

He sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose. "So you told her, but not your own crew?" Mihawk asked and watched as the grin vanished from the man's face, straw hat hiding his eyes for a moment.

Roger mimicked his sigh and pulled his hat off, "I know it's hard for you to understand, but I don't want the last few months I have left for my crew to worry and despair. I want to end on my own terms and I've already spoken to Garp on it. If I am going to die, then I want to die urging on the next generation in my name." He said already knowing that Mihawk would have kept their conversation private between the three of them.

"I've tried to convence him as well, to no avail," Rouge said with her voice soft and gentle. "But I will enjoy the time I have with him and cherish it always."

"I see..." He really didn't, but who was he to judge mortal men. "Then I suppose you called me here to marry you two."

Both of their faces flushed and he laughed as their eyes grew wide along with their sputtering of this and that. It seemed that marriage hadn't been in their thoughts, but it was now.

Mihawk shook his head and he stood, dismissing the barrier, "All hands!" He barked out and almost immediately the crew quited. They all respected him as Captain's brother and he had done much to earn their respect as well. "Tomorrow night there's gonna be a wedding so I need all of ye to be up by noon to help prepare it for your Captain. Ya here me?" He asked them all and listened to Roger groan behind him.

There was silence for two seconds before the bar was filled with cheers and wolf whistles. Everyone was happy for their Captain, no doubt of that. He did share a long and heavy look with Rayleigh though. They both knew the coming times would be harder than most and, well... hopefully everyone made it out somewhat alright.

"Hawky!" He grunted as he suddenly had an arms full. Shank's grinning up from under the straw hat that was no longer on his Captain's head. It always seemed to shift between the two... "How long are you staying?" He asked, face flushed from drink and eyess shining happily.

"A few days or so." He said with a gentle smile, helping Shank's steady on his feet. The young man was growing tall... they were eye to eye now and Mihawk sort of missed the days where the younger had to look up at him.

"Really?" His eyes brightened and his hold on Mihawk seemed to tighten even further.

"Yes, really." Mihawk chuckled and he shifted a bit, wrapping an arm around the red heads shoulder. "Alright, let's get you some rest. We have a busy day ahead of us." He said and nodded to Rayleigh knowing that the first mate would make sure that everyone went to bed at a somewhat decent hour.

Shanks stumbled a bit as they went to one of the rented rooms. The boy kept glancing up at Mihawk throughout the entire trip before speaking, "You have really pretty eyes..." He murmured shyly.

A hum left Mihawk as he shut the door behind them, "Oh?" He asked and tilted his head.

"Yea..." Before Mihawk could react, Shanks had already closed the distance once more.

He pressed his lips to Mihawk's eyes closed. It shocked the man for a moment before he pressed back softly before pulling away. Not that it didn't feel nice to him, but... well Shanks was drunk and so his choices were skewed.

"Get some sleep, Shanks." Mihawk whispered and he pressed his hands over the red head's eyes, watching as the teen almost instantly fell asleep.

"Wooow," He heard Asmo in the back of his mind and quickly shoved the demon away for a moment.

Mihawk took a shaky breath and rubbed at his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't think that Shanks was attractive, but... well he was hundreds of years old. Not to mention that he was undying. He was Death's and Death was his, so there was no point in falling was there? It would only lead to heartache for the both of them. Unless... well no. That would hardly be fair.

He sighed and stepped out of the room, chuckling when Rayleigh stepped out of the room across from him. Buggy's snores being cut off as the door shut.

"It's getting close to time..." Rayleigh said sadly and Mihawk nodded. "I thought, after all this time that he would trust us to act accordingly. We're his family after all." The Dark King said looking hurt and confused.

"It's because he loves you that he doesn't want to burden you." Mihawk said and rested his hand on the other's shoulder. "Come now, though. It's to be a happy day tomorrow so let's get some rest."

"Right..." Rayleigh nodded and they went their separate ways.

Mihawk watched him go, before heading back down to the tavern. It was quiet now, all the crew going off to bed or wherever they chose to be till morning. The barmaids for the tavern were cleaning off tables quietly and draping blankets over the ones that didn't make it far from their glasses.

He offered to help, but was turned away with polite smiles and nodded his head. While he didn't necessarily need sleep, he did enjoy it... right now though he didn't really feel up to it. Tomorrow would be a wedding, yes, but then... well then their would be a funeral in the months to come.

Mihawk let out another soft sigh and he began walking through the village, decorating quietly with what he could. He'd no doubt the village would cook a feast, but for now he did what he could as the moon lowered and the sun slowly rose.

"Mihawk!" He turned and saw Roger and Rouge walking over to him with wide eyes and flushed faces. "Did you get any sleep?" The man asked him.

"No, I didn't need to." He said simply, shielding his eyes from the sun as he looked around.

Mihawk supposed that he may have gotten a tad carried away in his soft, ocean colored wedding decorations. To be fair though, he saw Roger as his little brother and he wanted their day to be remembered and special.

A chuckle left Mihawk and he rubbed the back of his neck, "Is it wrong for me to want this to go well for you?" He asked with a gentle smile and watched as their own seemed to soften as well.

"That's not the issue here, Hawk. I want you to get rest to you know." Roger pointed out and moved to pull the other into a short hug that Mihawk leaned into and appreciated.

"I know, I know. For now though, enjoy the festivities, yes?" Mihawk said and he shoed the two of them off, warning them that they'd be saying vows at dusk while he went on finishing up minor details, avoiding Shanks a bit as he went.

It wasn't until an hour before Dusk that he was caught by the persistent cabin boy. He was in the middle of fixing up the overhang of flowers where they'd be saying vows when the teen trapped him in.

Shanks' face was flushed slightly as his chest heaved with labored breaths. "Why've you been avoiding me?" His voice sounded slightly hurt as he looked at Mihawk with determined eyes.

"I wasn't avoiding-"

"You were!"

"No, I-"

"Don't lie to me. Every time I called out for you or got close you used your powers to slip away! Did I do something wrong?"

Mihawk sighed and finished threading out one of the longer stems of flowers. "No, Shanks. You didn't, not really anyways. Do you remember last night when I brought you to your room?" He asked, not looking towards the boy.

Shanks made a low sound, "Yeah you brought me to the room and then I...I...oh..." He could here the moment Shanks put two and two together.

He nodded a bit to himself, "I didn't want to upset you, though I suppose I did regardless. It wasn't anything you did though. I just felt bad as you were drunk and couldn't think through your actions." Mihawk said knowing that it was probably just a passing fancy that Shanks had of him.

"No, I..." Shanks stumbled before straightening and he stepped forward, into Mihawk's space. "I do, actually. Like you, that is." He said and looked Mihawk in the eyes even as his face flushed.

Mihawk blinked for a moment and then shook his head, "You're just a teen, Shanks and I am hardly worth your time. I-"

He was cut off as Shanks grabbed his wrists and leaned forward, sealing their lips together. Mihawk's eyes widened a moment, before slowly slipping closed. The grip around his wrists loosened and shifted lower, threading fingers together.

It was a soft kiss. Shallow and timid. Something Mihawk couldn't remember ever being given throughout his life despite the numerous chance to do so. He leaned into it slightly before pulling away with both their faces flushed.

"I mean it..." Shanks said softly as they held each other's gaze.

"We...we will see..." Mihawk said back softly and then let go of Shanks' hands, shooing him off. "Later though. We have a wedding to ready for Roger."

"Right!" Shanks nodded quickly with a bright smile.