"Oh, how cute!"

Mihawk stiffened. He'd been hoping this didn't happen. He turned to see a saleswoman.

She appeared to have stars in her eyes. She was also staring at the little boy in his arms. The swordsman knew exactly what was going to happen next.

"Is she yours? She's absolutely adorable!" she squealed. "She looks just like you!"

Mihawk shifted, "He's mine, yes. I just found him recently." Maybe this woman will be helpful? He took another look. Doubtful.

"Oh, he's a boy? My mistake! Do you need help? You look so confused! You must be a recent parent, I've seen people just like you…" the woman went on and on, she didn't stop! But, she was also grabbing quite a few clothes off the racks that looked like they would fit the child.

Mihawk decided to just go with it. If it meant he didn't have to talk much, and he got information…

The little boy looked up at him. "Oiseau-yeux?"

"Aww! He even has his own little made up word for you! He's just so cute!" the saleswoman squealed again, bouncing in place. The little boy covered his ears, "Trop fort!"

Yellow eyes narrowed, and glared down the woman. That was understandable.

"Lower your voice. He has sensitive ears."

The woman looked ashamed for a few seconds, before squealing again, this time quietly. "I'm so sorry. How old is he anyway? And I never got your names, either."

"I do not see how that is relevant."

She puffed up indignantly. "Of course it will help! I need to know whether he will be going to different islands on a ship, or staying here on this Spring island! And at certain ages, children grow very fast! Clothes should fit the person no matter where they go! And if you're famous, since you're obviously a pirate, he should reflect that! I could probably even sew your Jolly Roger on his clothing! I'm not just a saleswoman, you know!"

No, I didn't know. He glared at her for a few more moments. She didn't seem scared at all, even after having deduced that he was a pirate, and was looking right into his eyes. He leaned back, mildly impressed.

"I am Dracule Mihawk. And this is Dracule…" he thought. Something both males and females could use… he didn't want to limit his little brat to only one because it was obvious he could be both… actually that could be rather useful sometimes… "Kai. He's four." That would have to do.

"Kai? That's actually a cute name. Now, I will need your opinions as well… You are his parent-"

"Brother. And only guardian."

"Oh? All right then! Let's get the otouto of the Shichibukai some clothes!"

*\_/*\_/*

The woman was right. This is rather… cute…

This brat already has me wrapped around his fingers, doesn't he?

"Big-frère oiseau-yeux?"

The newly named Kai was kneeling on the seat of the Coffin like ship Hitsugibune and looking rather like a curious puppy. Instead of Mihawk's oversized shirt and boxers, (the only things Mihawk had that would stay on him) he was wearing what looked like a white tomesode top and thin white pants covered in pockets, along with little boots that looked surprisingly like Mihawk's own. It was an outfit that would have looked strange on anybody else. Mihawk had to hide a smile that ended up more like a smirk.

He had to do something about this language barrier. Not being able to understand the little gaki was getting on his nerves. And it would be harder to train Kai if he couldn't get his point across.

Mihawk knelt in front of the child and pointed at himself. "Mihawk," he said.

Then he flipped his finger around to point at Kai. "Kai."

The long hair turned a dark shade of green and he let out a confused "Huh?"

Mihawk pointed at himself again. "Mihawk. I am Mihawk." Pointing at Kai, "Kai. You are Kai."

"Oh! M-Miha-hawk? Mihawk?"

The swordsman couldn't help but smile proudly as the toddler pointed at himself and muttered "Kai? Je suis Kai? Je m'appelle Kai? Big-frère yeux d'oiseaux est Mihawk."

"Very good." He swept the boy into his arms and sat in Hitsugibune's throne, placing the child in his arms as he readied to set sail back to Kuraigana. He had already retrieved all the supplies he had come to this island for. It was time to go home.

*\_/*\_/*

What… is this? Why…? I didn't buy this!

Mihawk was staring at a little... frilly… DRESS! That crazy woman! I knew something was up with the giggling! He quickly looked into the bag he had pulled the… thing out of.

There were more in there. The whole bag was filled with flowers, frills and children's feminine… underthings.

"Mihawk? J'ai faim ... ah! Joli!"

The little boy tripped over a rug as he tried to run over to Mihawk, who immediately caught him with the disgustingly frilly dress as a cushion. Said dress was then pulled out of his hands as Kai steadied himself and held it to his body. He turned a bright smile on the man.

"Est-ce que Mihawk m'a obtenu ça? Je ne pensais pas que tu l'obtiendrais! Comment tu sais que j'aime ça?"

With Kai looking so happy, Mihawk couldn't do anything else but give in. Half formed plans to trash the bag flew out the mental window and he grimaced. He really does have me wrapped around his fingers. And I doubt he even knows it. He turned back to the bag and reluctantly began sorting through it until tiny hands began tugging him to the kitchen. He's not even trying. What happened to the scared little thing from a couple of days ago?

*\_/*\_/*

They're cute, ne?

Translations:

Japanese:

Kai - Time/Release

Tomesode - Children's kimono, I think.

French:

"Oiseau-yeux?" - "Bird eyes?

"Trop fort!" - "Too loud!"

"Big-frère oiseau-yeux?" - "Big brother bird-eyes?"

"Kai? Je suis Kai? Je m'appelle Kai? Big-frère yeux d'oiseaux est Mihawk." - "Kai? I am Kai? My name is Kai? Big brother bird-eyes is Mihawk."

"Mihawk? J'ai faim ... ah! Joli!" - "Mihawk? I'm hungry… ah! Pretty!"

"Est-ce que Mihawk m'a obtenu ça? Je ne pensais pas que tu l'obtiendrais! Comment tu sais que j'aime ça?" - "Did Mihawk get this for me? I didn't think you'd get it! How you know I like this?"