Here we go again ;-)
Thanks for your sweet comments. I'm already doing much better, just a little bit tired ^^
With this little new chapter I hope you have a great start into a new week and I wish you all the best
Chapter 17 - Contract
-Zoro-
He knows it!
Zoro laughed weakly, but he couldn't even convince himself, he wasn't good at lying, never had been.
"Excuse me? I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Eizen. Are you sure you're alright?"
Once again, the politician's eyes flashed red and this time Zoro could see it very clearly.
"This hide-and-seek game is not necessary. I know who you are. Nothing more than a windy pirate claiming to be nobility." Eizen's voice had changed. He sounded almost as disdainful as when he spoke to Mihawk. "I've already told you, you fit Mihawk. Neither more than the scum of society."
"Eizen!" But Zoro didn't even know what to say. What the hell should he do?
The hiding game was over, Eizen knew the truth, Eizen knew he was Zoro, and Zoro had no idea how to deal with that. He had not expected Eizen to know – especially not after even his own crew had not recognized him – and he had not come up with a plan for such a situation. He wasn't smart enough to deal with Eizen like Mihawk probably would, he was not quick enough to come up with a good lie to cover himself within a matter of seconds. There was no way Zoro could win, there was no way he could not lose.
But no, he wasn't allowed to give in and give up. If Mihawk had taught him one thing about politics, it was that the other could claim a lot, but as long as he had no proof and Zoro did not admit anything, Eizen had nothing in his hand against him.
"Don't try to find excuses. I do not need your confirmation. I see the truth with my own eyes."
Zoro's brain still brillianted with absolute emptiness. He just didn't know what to do. He only knew for sure that under no circumstances could he admit to the other who he was.
Once again, Eizen opened his briefcase and pulled out a stack of sheets. Zoro took the offered papers while the other began to speak.
"Cat Burglar Nami, orphan. Grown up on the island Kokos in the East Blue, current location: The sky island Weatheria." Eizen's words were cold.
Zoro felt sick while looking at the image of the navigator. Below her picture was written exactly what the politician had just said.
"Vinsmoke Sanji from the Kingdom of Germa of the North Blue, also known as Blackleg. Grown up in the swimming restaurant Baratié. Current whereabouts: The Kamabakka Kingdom on the island of Momoiro."
He turned for the next page. There were other sheets, each with important information about each of his friends. Some papers stated where the respective person was at the moment, others did not.
Monkey D. Luffy, nickname Straw Hat, son of Monkey D. Dragon. Born: Windmill village on the island Dawn in the East Blue. Current location: Rusukaina
He paused. This man knew everything. There was even written that Luffy had gotten help from Boa Hancock and that Silver's Rayleigh was with him. This man watched each of his friends.
But there were other papers behind the one about Luffy.
Master Koshiro, Jonny and Yosaku, Corby, who the hell is Helmeppo?
He held roughly about 30 pages in his hands, some of the faces appeared more or less familiar to him, some acquaintances on his travels, but some of them were also good friends.
But then he looked at the last page.
"This is a copy of a formal charge of treason. What will happen to the five islands of Sasaki, Sadao, Suzono, Sarue, and Suzuki if Dracule gets his title annulled? What do you think happens to him and his employees? Or to his friends? What was his name, this aspiring Rear Admiral? Cho, if I'm not mistaken, it may be that this ambitious soldier was even a pirate himself I former days."
Zoro felt freezing cold.
"What's the point of all of this? What do you want from me?"
The other smiled at him as kindly as before.
"As I said, knowledge is power. All over the world there are people who follow my orders and I get what I want. You just have to negotiate the price."
"That means you're going to kill all these people if I don't sign this contract?"
"You quickly got that one right. Bravo. If I die or give the order, all the people on these sheets will be killed within a few minutes and the original of the indictment will be given to the five elders."
Zoro's hands trembled.
"Why?" He muttered. "All this effort can't be worth the gift you're talking about. Why do you want me?"
This man had researched his entire life. From the temple in which he had been born, the dojo in which he had spent most of his life, to the people he had met on his journey with Luffy and the others. This man knew everything, and he threatened to destroy it all.
"I'm going to find use for you, my dear," the politician replied with a grin. "After all, you have impressive skills and I think you can still be very useful to me in the future."
Zoro didn't know what to do. How could he get out of this mess? He shook his head.
"This is sheer madness! What are you talking about, you can't be serious? No one will believe you and you have no evidence."
Now the elder laughed.
"You still don't understand, my dear. My word is law. Nobody has to believe me to execute my orders and I don't need any evidence, because I've known the truth from the very beginning. I might not be able to control the five elders, but even they are eager to hear my advice, so there is nothing that can stop me, definitely not some dull pirate like you."
He was inferior to Eizen, exposed in any form. Zoro's thoughts could hardly follow the words of the other, let alone figure out a plan.
"Even if we ignore my ability, you must have realized by yourself that the circumstantial evidence speaks for itself, my dear. You only need to count two and two together and even your own gift will no longer help you. You can't twist me around your finger. Admit it, I know who you are, whether you deny it or not. You, too, are nothing more than a player as long as I let you play."
The other was right, it was no bluff, Zoro could do nothing but play along.
"So you threaten to kill innocent people just because the circumstantial evidence speaks for itself and I can't refute it?"
"Oh please, most of them are pirates and criminals."
"Six monks, a princess or a dojo leader I wouldn't call criminals."
He was helpless, Zoro had absolutely no choice. He couldn't even kill this bastard with the ugly bust in his back, the risk was far too high. For if it were not a bluff, all the people who had ever been important to him would be dead within the next hour. Eizen was right, he was only allowed to play along, but only to the rules that the politician came up with.
Impotent, furious, and reluctant, Zoro surrendered to the decision, which had never been in his.
"You're really insane, Eizen. Very well then, you shall get what you want. Unlike you, I will not play with the lives of others. I will sign."
"Well, you see, it is just like I told you. Everyone has a wish or a secret. I keep your secret save with me and fulfill your desire to not do anything to these people. It's a win-win-situation, my dear."
Zoro felt sick, but he didn't think about being undermined by this guy: "I assure you, as soon as I have a chance to get you for this madness, I will do just that. Remember that, Eizen, I'm not your toy. I am your enemy."
The elder laughed.
"Oh, keep ruffling your feathers, my dear. In the beginning it is always a bit tense. But you will soon learn to appreciate the conveniences of our collaboration and then at some point you will forget that I ever had to convince you."
"Blackmail. Let's not distort the facts."
The politician pulled a golden pen from his briefcase.
"Sign, my dear. Then we can all go back to our day-to-day business again. And you don't have to worry, I probably won't bother you often."
Zoro took the pen in his hand and looked at the white folder in front of him.
"Why do you even need me at all?" He murmured somewhat unintentionally, but the other continued to speak as if he hadn't heard Zoro's words.
"You can also be quite unconcerned about his Lordship, I'm not going to tell him anything about your little secret. If you sign, we can leave your acquaintance in the beautiful belief that he protects a damsel in distress and does not harbor his enemy."
There it was, the small loophole that Zoro had hoped for. The other believed that Mihawk was ignorant. So there was something Eizen didn't know. So there was also something that could be useful for Zoro at some point, not that it changed anything about the bitter taste in his mouth.
"All in all, you will find the contract in triplicate, please sign each one. One is for your documents, the rest I will take with me."
"You're not going to get away with this," Zoro whispered to more himself than to the other while signing.
"Oh, my dear. Don't pretend I'm the villain. I'm just playing the game of politics. But at least I have not killed countless innocent men and women, like a certain someone in this room."
Zoro did not respond but held up two of the treaties and the documents about the people of his life.
"You can keep them. I have all the information I need."
He wanted to kill him. Rarely Zoro had felt such a desire to cut someone's throat or hit someone's head against the marble head of some ugly old bust until either one of them would give in, presumably not the stone.
Trembling, he packed the papers and the contract into his white folder. Rarely he had felt so furious.
What had he just done? What the hell had he just done?
He had sold his freedom, Zoro had just sold himself!
No!
He wouldn't give up just yet, even now he wouldn't give up!
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he got up, a false smile on his lips.
"Don't be too full of yourself, Eizen. I have just signed your death sentence. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But trust me that you will regret what just happened one day."
The elder also got up, packed his belongings away and put his sunglasses back on.
"I don't think so. On the contrary, I believe that we will both benefit from this contract. Always remember, knowledge is power."
Eizen turned to the door and left. He stopped at the door frame.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you again, my dear Lady Loreen. We are quite similar, we are both willing to do everything for the things that are important to us, regardless of the price we have to pay. Unlike Dracule, you will soon understand my principles. Here's to a successful cooperation." He replied nothing and the old man continued: "You know, I really thought it would be harder to catch you. But as expected, without your watchdog you are nothing, not even a threat."
The door fell shut behind the politician.
Zoro stayed behind, unable to say anything, the white folder still in his hands. He tried to calm his breath, but it was impossible. How could he dare?
Between being desperate and mad as hell Zoro was still looking for a way, something he had not noticed to avoid this from happening, but what should he have done?
Eizen knew who he was. Had probably known from the beginning, from the moment, he had looked at Lady Loreen for the first time at the conference. From then on, he had done research, figured out what he could use against Zoro.
Zoro had stood no chance right from the start.
But what could this man want from him? All this just because people trusted Lady Loreen? Or did he go further? Was it less about Lady Loreen and more about Roronoa Zoro? Did he want to use him against his own crew one day?
No, Eizen knew probably that he would rather die than take action against his own crew. So what did Eizen really want from him?
"Roronoa?" Mihawk came through the door. "What has hap... You signed the contract?"
The other became dangerously pale, then got red-faced in anger.
"Are out of your mind?! It was a sham! He cannot just walk up to the five elders and annul my contract! Why did you agree?"
The other rushed towards him.
"Where is Eizen?" Zoro replied distractedly. Suddenly all the anger, all the panic, all the hassle in him was gone. Suddenly he felt dangerously calm.
"He left immediately, he got what he wanted after all."
Zoro still felt numb.
"I had no reason to refuse," he said coolly, looking up to the other, having a hard time to meet the other's eyes for the first time in a long, long time. "It would have been suspicious if I hadn't accepted."
"What? What are you talking about?"
The elder stood in front of him and stared at him in dismay.
"He offered a chance and it would suit Lady Loreen to seize it to make her voice heard, to point out the grievances of the world. Lady Loreen could not reject this contract. You yourself said that I should embody her like this, I just followed your advice."
Apparently stunned, the Shichibukai turned away, shook his head, and began to pace through the room.
"Is that really the reason? Is that the truth why you signed this contraact?"
This friendship would be no obligation, Roronoa. There is nothing you would owe me. The only thing I expect is that you will defeat me one day. And I would like you to be honest with me.
"Of course, why should I lie to you?"
The other hurried around to him.
"Then I ask you how could you be so stupid? Now Eizen has you in his hand. From the beginning, his goal was to conclude this contract with you. I do not know why, but I know he was damn serious, and you just went along?"
"Eizen is a man who does not accept a No." Everything seemed to move slower, the seconds lasting just a tad longer. Zoro was quite calm, just like back at that time when he had been fighting Mihawk or back on Thriller Bark when he had put his swords aside or back then, on that burning tower.
"And since when are you a man who lets himself be given orders by others. I thought you were just loyal to your captain."
"And I am! You said that it is important to know the enemy. Who could better help me to get close to the World Government than Eizen? Everything I do serves the purpose of being able to be of use to Luffy."
Why did Zoro feel like these words sounded like they could have been from everybody but him? He knew quite well that these words, these thoughts were not his. They suited Hawk Eyes, they matched Eizen, damn it they would even fit Nami or Robin, even the cook he would still trust with that, but never would he have thought he would ever say such a thing himself, so opposing to his own principles.
Was Eizen right? Was he really someone who, regardless of the consequences, did what he felt was right to protect who was important to him?
Zoro knew the answer.
Of course he was, and that's why he had just signed the contract.
So why didn't he just tell the Shichibukai the truth?
Mihawk looked down at him. He seemed a little more collected.
"Do you really believe what you are saying?"
Zoro lowered his gaze and looked away.
"Let me see the contract. You certainly have no knowledge about how such a document is structured. I can explain it to you."
He grabbed the folder more firmly.
"That won't be necessary. Eizen explained everything to me." He turned away and walked to the door. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."
"Roronoa?" The other stood behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
For a moment, Zoro looked at those fingers to his left before sighing.
"Sorry. I know it didn't go as planned. Let's just keep training tomorrow, okay? I don't want to think about Eizen right now."
The Shichibukai wanted to say something but interrupted himself before letting him go.
"All right. Go to sleep. We can no longer change what has happened. Tomorrow we will continue with your training. Try to rest for now."
Zoro nodded and sneaked out of the room.
After several corridors and stairs, he finally reached his room, buried the white folder in the depths of his closet, and then rushed to the shower. The moment the water hit his body, he broke after all.
The water caressed his cold body, trying to warm him, but did not reach him.
He slipped down the wall and hid under the jet of water.
-Mihawk-
He sat in his expansive armchair, next to him a glass of wine, a book in his hand. Roronoa had gone to bed quite some time ago. He had looked strange, somehow absent. He probably had not been aware of what he was getting into. Only in hindsight he had presumably understood what he had done.
Yes, Mihawk suspected that the boy was currently trying to understand what had happened tonight. Just like Mihawk himself back then had needed time to understand that he had sold his freedom.
Suddenly the door opened, and the Perona came in, still in a black dress but without apron and without hood.
He did not look up but tried to focus on the letters, but it was difficult.
"Does something like this happen to you on a regular basis?" The young woman asked, looking at him. "Being visited by the mighty day in and day out?"
"Because I am one of those mighty, I would say yes."
He tried to continue reading.
"I've cleared everything away, but don't you think Zoro wants to eat something? He didn't eat much this morning, you didn't take a break after training, and now he's gone to bed."
"Are you worried about Roronoa? He is an adult, he can take care of himself."
She clicked her tongue angrily.
"You don't get it, do you?"
Surprised, he looked at her. How dare she approached him like that, but he liked that she immediately backed up when he looked at her.
"I just subtly tried to persuade you to look after him."
"Why should I do this? He is asleep."
She folded her arms.
"Since he's gone, the shower hasn't stopped running. I can hear the pipes in the kitchen."
He closed the book. He had no idea how long it took women to take care of their body hygiene, but he suspected that it should not be more than a whole hour.
"I think you should look after him," she repeated.
He looked at her. She was so annoying and definitely stepped over her line.
"Why?"
"Well, I know I would be very grateful in Zoro's place if I could talk to master Moria. A girl sometimes just needs her father."
"Roronoa is neither a girl nor am I his father."
Now she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Just go down and check on him, okay?"
Shaking his head, he got up.
"You are somewhat strange, ghost girl. Either you are brave or rather stupid to tell me what to do. You seem to really like Roronoa if you even risk drawing my wrath on you for his benefit."
"What?! No!" Outraged, she looked at him as he walked to the door. "He's an uncivilized ruffian."
"Fair enough," he replied, and left. Behind him he could still hear her whispering to the empty room, but he decided to ignore her banter. Instead, he walked down the hallways until he stood in front of Roronoa's room.
He knocked. No reaction. He knocked again, then opened the door slightly.
"Roronoa, are you there?" He knew the answer of course, yet there was no reaction. "I am coming in now."
No one was in the room. But he could hear the water from the adjacent bathroom. Slowly he walked over. Again, he knocked on the door.
"Roronoa?"
The door opened a gap, hot, stuffy air fleeted out of the room.
"What in heaven's...?"
He pushed the door wide open and walked in. Steaming fog obscured his view, but then he saw the other. The young man cowered on the floor of the shower, the water bounced on his lowered head, his arms leaned against his knees.
"Roronoa?"
He did not react, even in this form he seemed almost tiny in this position.
Carefully Mihawk went further in, leaving the door open a gap to allow fresh air to come in. His clothes were already moist and heavy.
Reaching the shower, he turned off the water, a few last drops soaked his sleeve.
"Roronoa!"
Unexpectedly, the younger man tore his head up, transparent pearls run down his temples.
"Mihawk," he muttered in surprise, rubbed a few short strands out of his face and tried to get up, "what the hell are you doing here?"
Mihawk turned his gaze away and felt his cheeks growing warm.
"Making sure you are not falling asleep under the shower. Did you sit here all this time?"
He started to sweat due to the humidity of the room, looking for the next best half-dry towel and offered it to the younger one.
"Come out of there."
Roronoa grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his hip.
"What are you doing down here? Why are you in the shower with me?"
For a moment he did not reply, what should he answer? That he was worried?
The younger man pushed past him and grabbed another towel.
"Eizen played you worse than you had expected, right?" Mihawk finally said.
Roronoa rubbed the towel through his wet face.
"He's a bastard and I want to cut his throat."
Mihawk laughed quietly. "Who does not? But I still have a difficult time understanding why you agreed to his offer. Was it because of what he said? That he would speak to the five elders? Did he intimidate you in any way?"
Now the other looked at him again. The otherwise shining green eyes looked dark and empty, somehow swollen or was that just because of the humid air.
"Would you do it again?" Roronoa asked without interrupting their eye contact. "Would you become a Shichibukai again today?"
For another time, Mihawk wondered what strange thoughts the other was pondering about. It shocked him. He had never talked about it, with no one, so for what reason would Roronoa ask him? The ghost girl was right; it was good that he had come here.
"If that would be the only way to protect the people who are important to me, then yes, I would do it today like I did back then."
The other nodded, more to himself than to Mihawk.
"Jiroushin told me what had happened then. That you saved him and your ship's doctor," the younger man said absently, turning away from him to continue to dry himself.
"Did you protect anyone today?" Mihawk asked calmly. Perhaps he would now get the answers that Roronoa had not wanted to give him earlier.
"I don't know," Roronoa whispered, "I really don't know. Maybe I just made it worse."
Roronoa sighed heavily and for a moment he seemed incredibly vulnerable, almost like a small child. But then he laughed half-heartedly and rubbed his short hair dry.
"Well, I can't change it now, can I?"
Mihawk, on the other hand, could not help but notice that the other one was definitely well built. Unlike Loreen, who resembled a tender and fragile rose, this body looked like hard work. This body was that of a man, not that of a child.
"How did those happen?" He asked, pointing at the scars the younger man had on both legs, until now he had never noticed them.
"Tried to cut off my feet," the other said with a shrug.
"What? Why?" Again, the other stunned him.
"I thought you gathered information about me. I had the choice of becoming a wax figure or cutting off my feet and keep fighting. In the end, however, it was not necessary."
Roronoa turned towards him with his eyebrow raised.
A few seconds ago he had been a broken child, now he was the self-confident, carefree man Mihawk knew again. Roronoa threw the towels to the ground.
"Why are you blushing?" Roronoa asked with a doubtingly innocent smile.
"Why are you naked?"
The younger one laughed.
"Oh, you're so prudish."
Shaking his head, Mihawk turned away.
"Say, do you have no scars?" The other asked behind him.
He turned back to the younger one. By now, Roronoa had at least put on a pair of underpants. The small necklace with the cross around his neck, Mihawk wondered if Rorona ever took it off.
"A swordsman without scars, is that even possible?"
For a moment, Mihawk looked at the big scar on the other's chest, his scar. Then he sighed and took off his shirt, by now it was almost soaking wet.
He could feel the other's gaze on himself.
"It is not my body that is scarred," he said calmly.
Roronoa was still staring at him.
"Does it surprise you?"
"Oh yes," said the other with a grin, "at your age, still looking like this, respect."
One sentence was enough to upset Mihawk.
"How old do you actually think I am?"
"Old."
"Tze! Dress up and go to sleep, Roronoa. I will make you work tomorrow."
