Author's Note: Hi everyone~ In this chapter, we finally learn the truth about Zoro's past and there's a lot of changing POV, moving from the past to the present. I hope ya'll enjoy it and have a happy new year! (Also please read the warnings, there's some dark stuff in this chapter)
To kuromi123: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! Yep, Whitebeard definitely kidnapped everyone lol XD More of Katakuri and Luffy to come. Nami's arc is coming soon, so look forward to it! Thank you so much for the review and I hope you are doing well :)
To RVD: Hehe I know right? Gotta love that plot! I'm glad you're enjoying the many twists and turns of this story, I tried my best to make it something of a mystery lol XD
To livinganime14: I caught you by surprise huh? I'm glad ;)
To Ani Me Fanboy 123: I'm glad you liked my little twist! Yeah, Luffy definitely isn't the Demon King type. We will look into his secrets eventually hehe ;) Lol all theories are good, but I won't spoil anything for you XD They will return to school in the next chapter, so lots of fun stuff coming up! Thanks so much for the review!
To Alsheon: Yes, Monet being in there twice was a mistake on my part, one I have now fixed ;) As for Nami, yeah she's definitely not in a good place right now. We'll be going into her past and backstory soon and it's not good :( I did make her pretty angsty and 'vile', as you say, but we'll get into that in a few chapters. She will have redemption! I'm so glad you're enjoying my story so far! This one is definitely one of my favorites :) Haha thanks for compliments on my Luffy, he's actually really fun to write XD
To imena williams09: Thank you so much!
To AnonymousOPFan: Lol I'm so glad you liked the chapter! The struggles of being awesome indeed XD All will be revealed in this chapter ;) Oh yeah, and several kidnappings will be coming in the future. Thanks so much for the review and I hope you enjoy the update!
WARNINGS:
- Past character death
- Trauma, lots of trauma
- Suicide
- Body possession
Also, if you received another chapter update email, that was me! I have finally fixed the duplicate 'Monet' issue in Chapter 6! It was nothing major and did not change the story, just know that Valera Monet is the real one :)
The following morning, Luffy quietly made his way through Whitebeard's castle. He woke up in a bed with his brothers but slipped out upon noting the light starting to peek between the burgundy curtains. More than anything, he wanted to be there when Zoro woke up. His friend would definitely be freaked out and Luffy wanted to be there to support him.
The castle was strangely silent in the early morning hours but he tried to step carefully nonetheless. He didn't want to bother anyone by waking them up. However, the farther he walked, the more Luffy found himself unsure of where to go. The hallways seemed to go on forever.
When he took yet another wrong turn, Luffy sniffed the air, smelling something delicious. With an excited trot, he followed the smell until he came to a wooden door that was slightly cracked. He peered inside and saw a familiar face cooking something on a well-used stone stove.
"Cookin' food, yeah I'm cookin' food~" Thatch sang, moving his hips as he poked a spatula at whatever was sizzling in the iron pan. Luffy couldn't help but grin at the dark elf as he danced. He seemed happy.
Definitely a morning person.
When Thatch spun around, he yelped in surprise and almost dropped his spatula.
"Luffy! Wow, you scared me bud."
"Shishishi, sorry." He apologized while padding into the kitchen, feet chilled by the stone floor, "I-It just smelled so good…" Thatch dramatically placed a hand on his chest before winking at him and turning back to his pan of food.
"Then let me get you a plate! You want anything to drink? Tea? Coffee?"
"Um…do you have any juice?"
Thatch shot him a grin from over his shoulder.
"Sure thing. Take a seat and I'll have it ready in a jiff."
At the elf's direction, Luffy wandered over to a beautiful wooden table and sat down. He wrung his hands into the tunic he still wore (that had served as his pajamas overnight) and inhaled deeply. The smell of good food always calmed him down.
True to his word, Thatch brought him a plate full of bacon, eggs, and toast, accompanied by a mug of some sort of fruit juice.
"Eat up!" The elf said happily while plopping down on a chair next to him, wiping his hands on the apron he wore, "Oh, and feel free to ask for seconds, there's plenty."
"Thank you!" Luffy chirped before digging into the meal before him. As expected, it was delicious and gave him a warm, full feeling in his belly. Beside him, Thatch chuckled suddenly, drawing his attention.
"Sorry, sorry…I just can't believe you actually wore Pops' tunic. I mean, it's practically a dress." Luffy glanced down at himself.
"It's comfy. I like it!"
"I'm sure Pops will be happy to hear that." Thatch answered before taking a sip from a mug of what smelled like coffee, "He had Izo working overtime on those things."
Luffy giggled softly and turned back to his plate, content to eat in silence next to Thatch. He was glad that his brothers had such nice creature friends…they deserved it. Whitebeard and his family seemed really genuine and caring. If all of them were like Marco and Thatch, he wouldn't mind staying a little longer if the situation wasn't so dire.
"It was really good!" Luffy said happily when he handed the now empty plate back to Thatch, "Thanks again."
"No problem, kiddo. Always happy to serve!"
"U-Um…do you think you could help me find Zoro's room?" Luffy added quickly, flushing slightly in embarrassment, "I got lost…" Thatch sent him a soft smile as he put the dishes in the sink.
"Sure thing, but how about this: let's go get you changed first so you can be raring to go when your friend wakes up."
Luffy blinked and looked down at his bare legs.
"Yeah, okay."
With that, Thatch led Luffy back through the winding halls until they reached the guest room he and his brothers were using. When they opened the door, they were met by a now awake Sabo who looked just as put together as he always did (despite spending the night in a creature's castle).
"There you are, Lu. I was about to come look for you."
"He just wanted some breakfast." Thatch explained while placing a hand on his shoulder, "I see Ace is not a fan of mornings." Luffy barely held in a chuckle at Ace's sprawled form. His older brother was shirtless and had somehow managed to get himself completely turned around on the bed.
"Yes…I'll wake him in a moment." Sabo said with a short huff, "Why don't you get yourself changed, Luffy, and then I bet you'll want to go see Zoro."
"Mn." Luffy affirmed, stepping into the room, "Thatch was gonna show me the way!"
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Sabo replied, addressing the elf, "I'm afraid it'll take a while to get Ace up and ready. I assume Marco is with him now?" Thatch nodded.
"Yeah, stayed the whole night with him."
Luffy smiled to himself behind the provided changing screen as he removed the tunic. Whitebeard's family really were good people. They didn't have to watch over Zoro…but they chose to even though they barely knew him. Once he was dressed in his shorts and t-shirt from the day before, he trotted up to Thatch and Sabo, prompting his brother to run a hand through his hair.
"Sabo…my hair's fine!"
"It's a rat's nest, Lu. Give me a moment."
Once his brother was done attempting to 'tame' Luffy's hair, they left the room behind and made their way towards where Zoro rested. Thatch apparently found his brother's doting amusing and teased him about it on the way, making Luffy laugh. Yeah, Ace and Sabo could be over-protective, but that never really bothered him. It was just part of who they were.
"All right, here we are!"
Luffy gently pushed the door open and peeked around it, earning Marco's attention. Su-zaku looked a little tired but otherwise normal. The bird-man smiled at him and motioned for them to come inside.
"How is he?" Luffy questioned upon reaching Zoro's bedside.
"Better, yoi." Marco answered, "I think he'll wake soon."
When Zoro opened his eyes, he took a moment to just stare at the unfamiliar ceiling. The events that occurred at the Colosseum flashed across his memory until…
"What…happened?" He managed, voice breaking. When he spoke, Luffy's face popped into his vision. His roommate looked relieved and his smile helped him relax a little despite the uncertainty of the situation.
"Zoro, you're finally awake! Thank goodness!"
"Welcome back, yoi." He glanced to Luffy's left and tensed at the sight of the flaming creature, 'Marco'. Had they been…captured?
"D-Do you feel okay?" Luffy asked, looking worried, "Like, um…like yourself?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Zoro answered, eyeing Marco and the dark elf with suspicion, "What about you, Luffy? Are they treating you well?" The kid blinked in confusion at that and the creatures sent each other a look.
"You're not a prisoner, yoi." Marco put in as he stood up, "You're our guests until we get this mess with Mihawk figured out."
Zoro frowned and clenched his fists around the blanket someone had thrown over him. That's right, Mihawk showed up and then they were dragged to one of the creature realms, he wasn't sure which one. Then…the bastard approached him and-
…and…nothing.
"Luffy…what happened to me?" Zoro asked in a quiet voice, afraid of what he might hear. Luffy's expression hardened and he bit his lip, letting him know that whatever it was, it wasn't good.
"Um…well…"
Whitebeard sat in his chair, content to watch his many guests trickle in. He asked that most of his children stay away from the main hall for a while to help them feel more secure, that is, with the exception of Marco and Thatch. The red-haired ranger, Shanks, hadn't slept much but did eventually settle down. He'd chosen to lean against one of the many pillars of his hall so he could watch over the others easily.
Katakuri also hadn't slept but did retire to the room they offered him for the majority of the night. Shanks sent him a look when he flew in so the demon chose a spot across the room.
The giant's smile widened when Ace and Sabo walked in. He'd kept an eye on the little ones during their stay using his mana sense and was glad they got some rest.
"…morning." Ace greeted, nodding to Shanks as he wiped sleep from his eyes and attempted to stifle a yawn. Sabo, meanwhile, bowed respectfully to Whitebeard.
"Hey." Shanks replied, "Where's Luffy?"
"With Zoro." Sabo added quietly, like he was afraid someone would hear him, "I think Marco and Thatch are there too." That seemed to alleviate some of the ranger's nerves but he was still on guard. Probably worried Whitebeard would try something with his students. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted the little ones to stay for a while, he knew that now wasn't the time.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the main doors opened, allowing Marco, Thatch, and the young ones through. Whitebeard frowned at the sight of distress on the green-haired one's face. It was clear someone had explained what happened. Luffy, the hatchling, walked close to his friend, expression somewhat downcast.
"Luffy, Zoro!" Shanks exclaimed, trotting up to them so he could put a hand on each of their shoulders, "You two okay?"
Zoro's scowl deepened and Luffy huffed.
"…yeah, I guess. I-I just told Zoro what happened last night."
"Oh." Shanks muttered, turning his attention to the older boy, "How are you holding up?" The young one said nothing and just stared at the floor.
"…confused."
Whitebeard's heart went out to the boy. From what he'd ascertained, Zoro had no idea about the great power that lived inside him. For whatever reason, Mihawk had kept it from him which was questionable in his eyes. Hopefully, the demon would have a good explanation for his actions. There was much that needed to be said.
"Why don't you take a seat, little ones." Whitebeard put in, "Mihawk will be here shortly."
With that, Shanks guided all the humans to sit down on the polished tile. Marco and Thatch moved to stand next to Whitebeard while Katakuri also sat down and crossed his legs, scarlet eyes fluttering closed. They waited in a silence for a few minutes, the only sound that of their quiet breathing. Whitebeard glanced over his shoulder when he finally felt Mihawk move.
The demon chose to retreat to the very top of his castle, requesting solitude, but now it was time for him to speak.
Luffy sat as close to Zoro as he could, wanting to ensure his friend had the support he needed. Naturally, it came as a shock to hear that someone else (or something else) inhabited your body. Zoro had barely said a word since he was told of the events that occurred out on the lawn. Luffy wished there was something he could do…
They all looked up when Mihawk finally entered the hall, dressed casually like he had been back at Makino's tavern. Zoro's body tensed up when he laid eyes on the demon and, across the room, Katakuri straightened up.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, pal." Thatch said seriously, breaking the silence. Mihawk simply sighed at that and crossed his arms.
"Yes…I suppose I do, but tell me, are you certain it is wise to have Big Mom's son here?" Luffy's eyes moved to Katakuri who didn't seem affected by the statement. "Everything I say will be of great interest to both her and Kaido."
"Even if you tell me to leave, it will only be a matter of time before whatever you say becomes common knowledge." Katakuri answered, "Both Mama and Kaido already know of the heir's existence…hiding his identity will only delay the inevitable."
Luffy bit the inside of his cheek. He'd been hunted down like a dog because they thought he was the heir…and Katakuri would definitely tell his Mama what he'd discovered. Zoro would be in more danger than ever.
"I'm afraid he's correct, Mihawk." Whitebeard said in a booming voice, "There is no hiding it now. However, I would ask that, out of respect for the young ones, you refrain from reporting whatever is said today, Dogtooth…at least for a little while. To give them time to recover."
Katakuri nodded in agreement.
"Very well, that is a reasonable request."
Luffy let out a soft sigh of relief despite knowing that Katakuri's actions wouldn't buy them much time. At least it was better than nothing.
"Good. Now…" Mihawk trailed off when his golden eyes met Zoro's, "I imagine you have a great many questions for me." The green-haired teen glared at the demon, hands shaking.
"You're damn right I do."
Mihawk's expression softened ever-so slightly.
"I believe it would be best for me to start at the beginning," The hawk demon continued, "but I warn you…it's a long story." Everyone in the hall leaned forward expectantly, ready to hear the long awaited explanation.
Many, many years prior to the present day, Mihawk entered into the Demon King's palace. Even then, it was old and held great significance to the people of Skotàdi. Asura, nicknamed the Bringer of Death, lounged on his throne like it was nothing but a couch and not a piece of history.
He was large, taller and broader than Mihawk, and wore all the golden ornaments that his station allowed. His blood red eyes rolled towards the ceiling even as a warrior from a nearby village demonstrated his skills before him.
"Enough of this. Leave." Asura commanded, causing the lesser demon to bow and scurry out of the throne room. Soon it was just the two of them. "Why must you bore me with these pathetic creatures, Dracule? Can I not rule in peace?"
"You know why." Mihawk answered with a frustrated huff, "The limit of your rule is approaching and you must choose an heir. This would be easy if you had children, but seeing as you don't, we have to look elsewhere."
Asura just rolled his eyes again.
"That is a ridiculous rule…what if I don't wish to relinquish my soul?"
"You must, my Liege, otherwise-"
The Demon King stopped him with a wave of his hand.
"I will do what I please."
"Asura was stubborn and childish. Arrogant to a fault." Mihawk explained, "He did not want to give up his throne even if it meant the end of his bloodline. No matter who I brought before him…he refused them all."
"I remember…" Katakuri put in, looking pensive, "His personality was a bit lacking but he made up for it in raw strength and power. Even Mama would not cross him, but tell me…what are these 'limits' you speak of?" The hawk demon's eyes closed briefly before he answered.
"One of the greatest secrets of the Demon King is the limit his power puts on him. Each King can only rule for a thousand years at a time. After that…if their soul is not passed to an heir, they become weaker and weaker until they die, ending the sacred bloodline."
This seemed to surprise pretty much everyone, though Luffy was just having a hard time keeping up.
"For obvious reasons, this was kept from the general populace. If someone, such as Kaido or Linlin, found out…they could steal the power and the throne."
"I thought Big Mom and Kaido were already competing for the title." Shanks said, sounding confused, "Do they really need Asura's soul to do that?" Mihawk nodded.
"Even if one of them were to overpower the other, without Asura's soul and bloodline, they would never become the true Demon King. A leader, certainly…but no true King."
"…but Zoro's not from Skotàdi." Luffy stated loudly, earning everyone's attention, "S-So he's not related to the Demon King by blood, right?"
"I'm afraid that's not how it works." Mihawk corrected, eyes flicking towards Zoro, "Whoever the Demon King chooses as his heir, relative or not, his blood passes to that person. It is not a linear process."
"But then…how did it end up in Zoro?"
Mihawk's wings twitched at his back.
"Well, as I predicted, over time Asura grew weak. He continued to refuse every person I presented to him and it was becoming difficult for him to hide his weakness. Eventually…someone found out about the state he was in and came to try and overthrow him."
"Who?"
"…a creature from Fotià named Xebec."
"Ha, you are weaker than I expected!" The fiery being taunted as he blocked yet another of Asura's blows. Mihawk lay in the corner, blooded and barely able to keep himself conscious. Of course he'd heard of Xebec the Conqueror, but he never expected him to cross over from Fotià and try to take the throne of a world that wasn't even his. "Give up the throne and I may yet let you live."
"That…is not how this works." Mihawk barely managed to whisper, trying to stand so he could properly protect his King. Even if Xebec killed Asura, he wouldn't get his power. It was not so easily stolen.
"You…you are not worthy of it." Asura replied, licking blood from the corner of his mouth, "No one is."
Xebec roared at the King and charged him again, but this time, Asura let him sink his claws into his chest. Mihawk gasped in horror but the King seemed calm…unnaturally so.
"But if you wish to try…go ahead and have a taste."
At that, Asura flooded Xebec's body with the Demon King's ancient mana. It consumed him, screams and all, morphing him into a hideous beast.
"…I always wondered what happened to him." Whitebeard muttered, "He simply disappeared one day, which was part of the reason Kaido, Linlin, and I went our separate ways."
"Were you friends?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. Marco laughed at that.
"Not quite, yoi. They served as Xebec's subordinates for a while but it didn't last."
"This beast…what happened to it?" Katakuri asked, getting them back on track. Mihawk sent him a knowing look.
"With the last of his strength, Asura banished him to a nearby forest and re-named him so that no one would know what occurred." Katakuri's eyes widened.
"…Balak."
Luffy shivered at the name and recalled his terrifying experience with the monster. That thing had once been a person? Or…creature? It was frightening to think about the fact that the very mana that turned someone into a beast like Balak now resided in his best friend.
"However, the damage had been done." Mihawk continued, shifting his weight, "Asura couldn't fight anymore and his mana needed time to recover. We knew that Xebec's followers wouldn't be far behind, so I took him and ran to the one place they wouldn't follow: Lumina."
"Wiping our memories in the process." Whitebeard put in, earning yet another nod from the pale hawk-demon.
"Yes, I cast a spell that had been passed down in my family for such an occasion. Anything to protect Asura and his power."
"This place is so bright." Asura complained from his spot limp on Mihawk's back. He didn't respond to the injured King and kept the charmed cloak tight around their bodies. It was unclear what part of Lumina they'd ended up in, but they needed to find shelter, and quick. Once night fell, they could move easier.
After walking for a while, they came across what appeared to be a shrine. Desperate for shade and warmth, Mihawk entered the small building and dropped Asura on the wooden floor.
"Welcome, strangers." A voice called, prompting Mihawk to draw his sword. It was a human. He was seated next to a fire and had a beautiful katana on his lap, sharpening it expertly. "Come take a seat…you look positively frigid."
"In the human world, we met a family of samurai who took us in." Mihawk said, voice softening just a bit, "They, for whatever reason, were aware of where we came from and helped us regardless. Their mana was immense and helped sustain both Asura and myself. Even my obstinate Lord became fond of them…which was quite a feat."
The demon then looked directly at Zoro.
"They said their family name was 'Shimotsuki'…I imagine that is familiar to you."
Zoro's eyes grew wide and he swallowed hard, prompting Luffy to lean in, wanting to know what shocked him so much.
"T-That was my Dad's name…him and Kuina. Shimotsuki Koushirou."
Everyone paused at this point, drawing their own conclusions.
"It eventually became too taxing for Asura to remain as he was, so we made the decision to allow his soul to rest inside the patriarch of the Shimotsuki family who'd been so kind to us." The demon said, sighing as if recalling a fond memory, "For once, Asura agreed with me. He believed that the one who would carry on his legacy, someone who was worthy of his power, would come from this family, so he fell into a dormant state."
"But I'm not a-a Shimotsuki." Zoro shakily put in, finally speaking up, "Koushirou was my adoptive father."
"Yes, I know." Mihawk replied, feathers ruffling, "As the generations passed, the Shimotsuki family dwindled until not many were left. Asura's soul was passed from parent to child, steadily recovering, and I watched over whoever was the current carrier until…"
"Until…what?"
"Until an incident occurred and Asura rejected the next intended recipient."
"I-I don't understand…why didn't it work?" Koushirou whispered, holding his young, unconscious daughter close, "Kuina is-is-"
"I don't know." Mihawk interrupted, eyeing the child closely, "The only thing I can think of is that Asura has regained enough of his power to choose and he doesn't want her. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"But she was to be our family's legacy…" Koushirou muttered, gritting his teeth, "…my second chance to bring honor to the Shimotsuki family." The hawk demon sighed, unsure what to tell the human.
"There's nothing to be done about it. When he is ready, Asura will choose whomever he pleases, and his soul will pass to that person even if they are not part of your family. Perhaps that time has come."
"You knew my father? That's impossible!" Zoro exclaimed, leaping to his feet, "Koushirou w-was ridiculously superstitious and didn't know about the creature realms-"
"All an act." Mihawk interrupted, making Zoro's blood run cold, "He was one of the last Shimotsuki's and intended to have his daughter, Kuina, take up the mantel from his sister, the carrier at the time…but Asura wouldn't allow it. Koushirou took it badly and began to search for someone else in an attempt to salvage his 'honor'."
Zoro thought back to the dojo, all those classes for the local kids…how his father adopted both him and Perona, children who 'showed promise'.
"It's not true, it can't be true! Koushirou was…he was kind and wouldn't-" Zoro couldn't finish the sentence. He couldn't bring himself to believe that his father had only adopted him because he might be able to hold the soul of a dangerous creature. Mihawk's expression remained neutral, which only made Zoro angrier. "You're lying! I don't believe you!"
"Believe what you wish, but it's the truth." The demon shot back, golden eyes flashing, "I was against it, but Koushirou insisted we try to transfer Asura's soul again when you or Perona were old enough. Your sister, however…she began to suspect something."
Zoro's stomach dropped, thinking back to when Kuina first noticed Mihawk and the Academy got involved. She became protective of him and Perona, more than normal. Even Koushirou had, at the time, seemed off but Zoro chalked it up to surprise at learning magical creatures existed.
"One day, she confronted me, asked why I was following you around." Mihawk cracked a smile. "She called me a 'stalker' and demanded I leave you alone."
Zoro felt emotions bubbling up in his chest as he thought about Kuina, his beloved older sister.
"There were still a few days until the ritual so I decided to do what she wished…something I regret now." Zoro looked up when Mihawk spoke those foreboding words. "Your father became impatient and called his sister over early. They didn't wait for me and tried to transfer Asura to Perona…but it failed yet again."
Mihawk sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"By the time I sensed what was happening, things had already gotten out of hand. They'd lost control of Asura's soul and it was wreaking havoc on the house. He does not like to be controlled or manipulated." The demon sent him a strange look of admiration. "You were so young and yet…you didn't flinch when he attacked you."
Zoro honestly couldn't remember that happening but something inside him responded to that statement, thrumming like a plucked harp string.
"It is difficult to describe, but when you and Asura connected, it was like his soul rejoiced. I knew right then and there that you were the one he'd been waiting for all this time…but Asura's soul was agitated after the many failed transfers, and his madness became yours."
"My King, stop this!" Mihawk cried, rushing forward in an attempt to stop Asura in young Zoro's body from attacking Koushirou. The man wasn't running and simply stared at his son in awe.
But Asura didn't stop, so consumed with power and high off Zoro's mana, he wasn't in his right mind. The ritual had been tainted and now they were paying the price. Mihawk cursed himself for leaving the family alone when he knew that Koushirou was desperate. That the man would do anything to prove himself.
The transfer had clearly gone wrong, Koushirou's sister was dead on the floor, a result of rushing the ceremony, and now both Zoro and Asura were going to do something they had no control over.
Mihawk rushed forward and pulled the two girls, Kuina and Perona, away from Zoro, noting they had serious wounds from the mana running wild.
"Yes, YES, my son!" Koushirou exclaimed, eyes wide with pride and happiness, "You have redeemed me. Now, accept your fate and bring honor to our family." Zoro didn't react to him and simply stared at the man with bloodlust.
"P-Please…" Kuina whimpered in his arms, "Save our little brother. Don't let him become a killer…"
Mihawk grit his teeth and put the girls down before rushing towards Zoro…but then something truly unexpected happened. Koushirou took a knife from his kimono and stabbed himself with it. The hawk demon could only stare in shock as the blood started flowing.
"Koushirou, what-"
"I have completed my duty…now, I can rest."
Zoro froze when the man fell face first in front of him, splattering blood onto the boy's face. Mihawk quickly rushed forward and pulled Zoro into his arms, noting the silent tears that flowed down his cheeks. The poor boy then began to sob into his chest and even Asura calmed down thanks to his newfound connection to Zoro.
Grief was a powerful emotion.
The hall was silent and Zoro could hear the blood pounding in his ears.
"I…I tried to save your sisters, I truly did." Mihawk explained, "But they were severely injured when the transfer went wrong and…they passed just before you woke up."
Zoro opened his mouth to say something but found the words just wouldn't come. In the next second, Luffy crushed him into a tight hug, tears streaming from his dark eyes.
So…Mihawk hadn't killed his family?
"W-Why did you let me think it was you this whole time?"
The demon's expression morphed into one of true guilt.
"I didn't want you to blame yourself…and thought it would be easier if you blamed me. In a way, it was my fault. I knew very well how dangerous and unpredictable Asura was and yet I still…" Zoro surprised himself by dislodging his body from Luffy and standing to his feet. He knew he was crying too but he still kept walking, moving closer and closer to Mihawk.
The creature who'd been his goal.
His enemy, for so long.
He knew he probably shouldn't believe what the demon said, and yet, somehow…he knew it was true.
"You're a bastard!" Zoro yelled right before slugging Mihawk across the jaw. The demon stood there and took it, not moving an inch. "You should've told me the truth! I've hated you, all this time, for nothing!"
The demon looked shocked at that exclamation.
"I miss my family…a lot." He continued, not wanting to lose his nerve, "And I don't know why, but I believe your story, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and help me make sure nothing like that ever happens again!"
Zoro slammed his fist into his chest, hard enough that he hoped Asura or whatever was in him felt it.
"Teach me how to control this power."
Mihawk chuckled and turned to fully face him.
"Are you sure? I'd be priming you to become the next Demon King."
"I don't want to be a King," Zoro shot back, "but I also don't want that bastard in control, so I'll do whatever it takes." Mihawk huffed and subtly nodded, wings rising back up to shoulder level. He released a breath and stood facing the hawk in silence until Thatch spoke up.
"Oh, just hug it out already!"
Later that day, Luffy and his brothers sat at a long table alongside Marco and Thatch eating lunch. Whitebeard insisted they at least stay for a meal before leaving to head back to the Mesa. Shanks stood alongside Zoro as they continued to talk with Mihawk in the corner of the room, whispering about things they didn't want the others to hear.
Luffy had been just as shocked as everyone else to hear Mihawk's story, but more than anything, he was surprised at how quickly Zoro forgave him. Well, maybe that wasn't the right word. Zoro seemed to accept that Mihawk wasn't the hateful murderer he thought he was, but he still seemed uncomfortable around the demon.
It would take time for them to move on from the tragedy that occurred.
"Luffy, you okay?" Ace questioned, pausing moments before stuffing a roll into his mouth.
"Yeah…just worried about Zoro."
"It sounds like both Mihawk and Shanks are doing their best to work this out." Sabo put in while dabbing his mouth with a napkin, "But everyone needs to be vigilant in the coming weeks…I believe this could get messy very quickly."
Luffy bit his lip at that. Oh, he knew it would get messy. Disregarding how the Academy would react to Zoro's 'passenger', the vision he received from Katakuri detailed a war that would be something terrible…and it was probably going to start soon now that they knew who the Demon King's heir was.
"I'll be back in a minute." Luffy said as he stood up from the table and walked towards one of the side exits. It wasn't hard to locate Katakuri, given his bulk. The demon sat on one of the balconies that overlooked the field of flowers outside Whitebeard's castle. He glanced down at Luffy when he sat next to him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Certainly, little one." Katakuri replied, straightening up, "What's on your mind?"
"The 'thing' that's coming…is there anything we can do to avoid it?" Luffy tried to avoid saying anything that would activate the scarlet mana inside him, "I don't wanna fight."
Katakuri didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned his palm up and summoned a small flame of his mana.
"My visions are not set in stone, rather they're expectations of what is most likely to occur. Naturally, they can be changed." He clenched his fist, putting the fire out. "However, with the revelation of Roronoa Zoro's blood, it is only a matter of time before Skotàdi is thrown into chaos. My recommendation to you and your friends would be to prepare as much as possible."
"…will they try to kill him?"
Katakuri shook his head.
"No, if he dies, Asura's soul dies with him. And, given that they haven't merged yet, he is vulnerable. Of course, that doesn't mean it's easy to remove the Demon King's power…" Luffy peered up at Katakuri quizzically when the demon trailed off.
"…one might even say it's impossible without the King's consent now that the heir has been selected. His mana is dangerous to anyone who tries to manipulate it."
"Well, that's good I guess." Luffy put in with a huff while Katakuri brought a hand to his chin. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking…you were able to remove some, correct?"
Luffy hummed and grabbed his ankles.
"Are you gonna kidnap me again if I say yes?"
Katakuri chuckled.
"No, Luffy, I'm not going to kidnap you. I just think there may be something more to your abilities, especially if you can touch Asura's mana."
When Luffy returned to his family and friends, Katakuri remained on the balcony deep in thought. He'd learned much thanks to his trip to the Mesa, information Mama would love to hear. Of course, he promised he would wait to tell her about Zoro, but for how long? She would no doubt notice something was up with him if he waited too long.
But the second he told her of Zoro's existence, she would want to send someone to capture him.
'And then there's my vision…' Katakuri mused, projecting the images into the forefront of his mind. It was a bit clearer now: Zoro was obviously the shadowy figure being protected by the humans, but Luffy…
How did he fit into all this?
Katakuri had his suspicions, number one being his ability to manipulate Asura's mana. If Zoro was the 'lock' and Luffy the 'key', that meant they wouldn't be able to transfer the Demon King's power to Mama without the little one's help.
…which would make him just as much of a target as Zoro.
'I hope I'm wrong.' Katakuri thought to himself with a sigh. He liked Luffy, he really did. It would be a shame if he had to catch him on Mama's orders and he certainly didn't want to come across him on a battlefield.
Only time would tell what fate had planned.