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by 2ilver8ox

Pirate King Monkey D. Luffy has agreed to go back in time some years when he was first starting out as a pirate. It is clear this decision was based due to his dead crew, no doubt he wishes to stop their demise. All details are on his contract but he has agreed to take me with him and off this godforsaken rock. (Time travel) (Fix it fic) (OC) (All anime and movies) On hiatus

14. Mihawk

MIHAWK

Dear Oyal,

Hey! This is your local bushman (I would hope, you only know one after all) And I have reached the Gori! The card turned kinda letter thing so we are writing to you now

First things first, We left a little later than we thought. There was a little trouble before we left. A... visitor come to our island. His name is Buggy and he is an absolute laugh! I gave him that ship you gave me, as Gori seems to have covered all of our building materials. I will let you know of any further research in the future.

We made it safe. I tried to look for that farmer guy you say you saw but there doesn't seem to be anyone living here. But you were right about the animals here. They are insane! They ain't like my animals that's for sure, but they are just as smart! Even smarter, the Pengu pirates already scouting for other recruits (Gori made the ship!) so I think we are going.

I haven't been this hyped in years! Finally back to the pirate life with my most trusted friends.

(Oyal, this is Gori Illa. It was the utmost pleasure to speak with you and as we created the contract, I noticed that you said that you are willing to fund my plans. I do not mean to rush but I hope to goodness you plan to act on that soon. Giant robots don't make themselves you know. Hohoho!)

Your Bushman, Gaimon! (And your Gorilla, Gori!)

OOO

Luffy smiles, taking a seat back in the restaurant, "Here he comes," sensing two presences boarding the ship.

The doors are not slammed open, there isn't any grand, dramatic entrance as the two entered. No, all that came was the pathetic sight of a pathetic man.

"Please…" the large man rasped, leaning heavily on his subordinate who deserves better, "Can you give me water and something to eat, please? If it's money, I've got it," the guy was tall, far taller than his subordinate with purple hair and sideburns. He was pale and sweating, the picture of a suffering man. But it was his eyes that gave him away, eyes that were cold but they were not out, just waiting, "As much as you ask... I don't know how long it's been since I've last eaten," he held his arms out, "Please, give me water and something to eat."

Patty raised an eyebrow looking unimpressed, "What's wrong with him? He doesn't look very dreadful to me," he said, despite pissing his pants three minutes ago, "Is this guy really the most dreadful pirate, Don Krieg?"

Sanji lets out the comment, "He looks hungry."

Luffy lets a small smile slip at Sanji's concern. Of course, that would be the first thing he would notice. What a great cook he has!

The big bad guy's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the floor. Gin got down, panicking at the sight of his unconscious captain, "C-captain! Don Krieg!" he turned to the restaurant in distress, "P-please! Please help my captain! He's starving to death! He hasn't eaten for days, If he doesn't get food soon, he'll die!"

He was begging. A man who was too proud to take charity was begging for help for the sake of his captain. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

"This is great!" Patty laughed, "So this is the notorious bully, Don Krieg?"

"We've got money this time!" Gin pleads, still on his knees, "Aren't we customers here?!"

"Not in your life!" Patty sysd smugly, "Hey, hurry up and call the Marines."

The customers around them slowly started to agree and cheer, "What?" Gin exclaimed, surprise.

"He has won't get another chance like this. No food for him! Get him out of here."

Even the chiefs started to grumble in agreement, "That's right! If he gets better, there's no telling what he'll do next! He's done so many awful things." "He deserves to be captured, even if he's starving! He's never done anything good in his life!" "He might even attack this ship if he gets better! We shouldn't even hand him a glass of water!"

"I won't do anything. I promise I'll leave after I eat," Krieg used his last strength to reposition himself on the floor in a bowing position, "So please h-help me" his face is completely covered but he seems so honest and sincere.

"Liar~" Luffy sing-songs, but tries to keep his voice down for Gin's sake.

Usopp raises an eyebrow at him, "Oh, sure, now you can tell."

Gin is fucking crying at the sight of his captain on the floor, ugh, him and his stupid loyalty, "Don Krieg, please stop! Please don't beg! How can you do such a humble act? Please stop it!"

Krieg continues, "I promise. Please Anything,... even your leftovers," he started, pathetically, to call out, "Anything!"

"Don!" poor Gin cries.

Patty isn't budging, "Heh, you think I'm sympathetic?"

Sanji comes down the stairs, "Outta the way, Patty," and gracefully kicks Patty completely in the face, sending him flying a few feet back.

Gin looks up in bewilderment at his savior, "Sa-Sanji!"

He hands Gin a bottle of wine and fried rice, "Take it, Gin. Let him have it."

Gin takes the food, "Sanji..."

Krieg gobbles the food himself, not even bothering with utensils, "Thanks!"

Carne was the one to step forward, "Hey, Sanji! Take away the food! Don't you know what kind of person he is?" he points to the monster stuffing his face, "He's the King of the East Blue, the sneakiest pirate of 'em all! It all began in prison. The guy pretended to be one of the marines," hmm not a bad idea, "...he killed the captain of his ship. And took over that ship to become a pirate! Sometimes he'd raise a Marine flag and enter a harbor, then he'd attack the city and other docked ships. Or he'd pretend to surrender, and then make surprise attacks. He'll do anything to win! That's how he got to where he is now!"

Luffy inwardly scoffs at the whole thing. What a lame pirate. About as lame as Cat Guy. Seriously what's with all these pirates and doing super lame things like being assholes.

Johnny stands up next surprisingly, "Cook dude is right! Don Krieg has a bounty of 17,000,000! He's too dangerous for my bro and me!"

"Yeah!" Yosaku agrees, hiding behind Zoro.

Luffy narrows his eyes. 17 Million... Is that like... a lot? What was his first bounty? It has a three in there, right? Was it lower?! Nah, he totally kicked ass as a kid but that would make it 30 million and 30 million minus 17 million...

"It's a low number, Luffy," Oyal supplies, "Just stop. You are going to hurt yourself."

Luffy smiles, "Read my mind!"

Sanji huffs, "So, he's a snake, eh?"

Carne shakes his head, "He shouldn't be underestimated, even now! Eat and leave? How can we believe what he says? We'd be doing the world a favor if we gave this wretch up!"

Don Krieg suddenly stands up and…

SLAM!

"S-Sanji!" Gin screams, horrified….

...at the sight of a broken floor.

"Huh?" Sanji blinks at the sight in front of him, Krieg's fist slamming on the empty floor right where he just stood.

"Hey, hey, hey," Luffy mutters, one rubber arm wrapped safely around his cook, "That's not a very grateful attitude you're showing."

Gin ignored the inhuman action and focused on his captain, "Don Krieg? You promised that you'd never hurt these people, so I took you here. Besides, that man saved our lives!"

Oyal shakes her head, "Illogical to think a man who man's his living off lying would tell the truth. Even to his own crew," with his barge is such a shape, the chance of Krieg lying were 97%. Complete certainty.

Don tries to play it cool, just glaring at the ground right in front of him, and then pulls his fist off the ground, "Yeah, it was good. I feel re-energized," he looks around, "This is a nice restaurant. I'll take it!"

Carne yells, "So that's why you came!"

Don points to his beat-up ship with his other hand, "My ship's ruined. I want a new one. Leave after you've gotten your things."

"W-what? Don Krieg! That's not what you promised!" Gin tries to protest. Don would have punched him, if Luffy hadn't interrupted his thoughts by laughing so loudly right now.

"Shishishishishi…" Luffy tilts his head letting his laughter die down, "Hey, better idea. How about…." he lifts one finger and points to Sanji, "Sanji makes food for your men…" he points to the customers, "They all leave, " and he points to Krieg, "And once you're all fed and taken care of," "he points to himself finally, "And I come and kick all of your asses so youcan just die, okay?"

There was a silence throughout the restaurant.

Then Don Krieg breaks the silence with a huge laugh of his own, "Hahahah! You're the brat, aren't you? The ballsy one who claims to have been on the Grand Line."

Luffy shrugs, "Yeah, what about it?"

Thoroughly pissed, Krieg uses his superior height to try to intimidate him, looking down on the boy from a distance, "Hm, he lied to you Gin," he says with a sleazy smile, "Do you really think someone like him could handle the Line?"

Gin looks at his captain then to Luffy. The differences were like night and day. Krieg was tall, big, and obviously saw himself as the strongest man in the room. Luffy was small, shorter, and young, the only thing giving him a definition of muscle are his red coat's shoulder pads. The answer should have been obvious.

It should have been… but... when Gin looked at Luffy's eyes… black and big and oh-so old it was like... it was like he is looking at… at...

A King.

Sanji struggles a little in Luffy's grip, "Luffy let go! I have to-!"

Luffy squeezes him a little, stopping him from saying whatever he was going to say, "You're just mad that I can handle the Grand Line and you got your ass handed to you on a silver platter."

Krieg doesn't find that funny, "Why you little-"

Before Krieg could do anything another voice came up, "Did you hear that?" the panicked voice of Usopp takes over, "Even Krieg couldn't make it there?!"

"So?" Oyal's monotone reply.

Usopp sighs, "I'm not saying we aren't going but maybe we are a little underprepared?"

"I mean..." Zoro pauses, "Have you ever seen Luffy being prepared?"

"Point taken…"

"You guys are insane..." Johnny muttered.

All eyes turned to the three who had a casual conversation.

"You planning to rumble, Luffy?" Zoro twirls a sword, "Need a hand?"

Luffy shrugs, "No, it's fine. You can just stay in your seat."

Usopp tries to put on a brave act, "O-Oh, okay. That's- That's too bad then. If you don't need us, there's nothing we can do about that!" he gave a thumbs up, "I-I'll help ya, if you still need it! G-Good luck!"

Zoro smacked him in the back of the head.

"What the hell was that for, Zoro?!"

"Shut up and stay still," Zoro snaped.

"Children, please," Oyal holds both their hands up, "You are both special."

Krieg did laugh at that, "That's your crew!" Krieg looks down at Luffy, "It may have just been a lack of information, but even a fleet of 5,000 men was defeated in seven days!"

The chefs shook, "Sev-seven days?! Krieg's men only lasted seven days?" "What could've happened to them?"

Luffy's jaw dropped, "Wow… you guys are even more hopeless than I thought," the sound of breaking the glass was somewhere, "Did you even make it to the first island? Geez!"

Krieg made a move to attack-

PLOP!

Zeff drops a bag in the middle of the floor right in between Luffy and Don Krieg. Poor Gin looked more and more lost with each passing second, "Here's food for 100 men. Help him get it on the ship."

The chefs were not so happy about this development, each one finding themselves brave enough to speak against their boss, "What's the meaning of this?" "What are you thinking, Head Chief? If his crew gets better, they'll take over the restaurant!"

Zeff could not care less, "Only if they've got the guts," he looked at Krieg with utter disregard, "Isn't that right? Mr. Couldn't-Get-Through-The-Grand-Line?"

Krieg looked at Zeff, for the first time looking less like he was stepping on a bug, "You. You're Zeff the Red Leg!" he states the obvious, "So you're still alive, eh? The cook-cum-captain, one of the greatest pirates in history."

Zeff rolls his eyes, "I'm alive, so what? It's not your concern. As you see, I make my living as a cook."

Krieg folded his arms, "That's a nice way of saying it. But from the look of things, it's not that you chose to be a cook, but it's the only thing you're able to do," he looked to Zeff's peg leg, "I've heard about Zeff the Red Leg."

Oyal nods, "He's an expert at fighting without his hands. His legs are so strong, they can break rocks, or even leave a footprint on iron. He earned the name ''Red Leg'' from his shoes, dyed red with the blood of his enemies. Though even losing a leg his power has not diminished over the years."

Zeff raises a brow at them, "...accurate. But doesn't matter."

"But it seems that you've lost that ever-so-precious leg of yours," Krieg points out, thinking he could belittle the man.

"He does know he can still use his leg, even with a peg leg, right?" Usopp leans over to the logician.

"He's trying to be clever, just ignore him," Oyal whispers back.

"I heard a rumor that you had an accident while sailing. For you, losing a leg means you can no longer do battle," he concludes his reasoning so cleverly.

Sanji grits his teeth at Krieg's taunting, not taking lightly of someone messing with Zeff. Only he can do that! IF only he could get out of this rubbery hold!

Zeff doesn't seem to give a shit to what this guy thought, "Why would I need to fight? I don't need my feet to cook, as long as I have a pair of hands. Just cough out what you really want to say," he was getting tired of this.

Krieg gives the shittiest of smiles. It was like if fish had teeth but kept the lips, "Zeff the Red Foot, I know that you're a man who's come back alive from the Grand Line. You must have kept a journal of that voyage. Hand it over!"

Luffy put a hand on Zeff's shoulder patting it, "Not bad old man! Good to know the East Blue has some representation!"

Zeff steps on Luffy's toes making him squirm simultaneously letting go of Sanji, "Shut it, kid. Indeed, I have the journal, but I'm not going to give it to you. That journal isn't just mine, it's the pride of my entire crew. It's far too valuable for the likes of you."

Krieg's smile turned into a sneer, "So you are not willing to give me information. True, I couldn't get through the Grand Line," he spat out, "But behold, for I am Don Krieg, the greatest! I was strong enough to make it through. I had enough men, enough ambition The only thing I lacked was information! That's the only reason why I failed."

Luffy is not hesitant to laugh, causing everyone in the damn restaurant to turn, in horror, at him, "No, really you are just pathetic…" he grins cheekily, "You can never survive there."

The air grew cold at the taunt. Zoro looked like he was trying to cover his own laughter. Johnny and Yosaku fell off their own seats and Tobio smiled widely, being one of the few to witness this ass-kicking monster. Usopp was shaking his head either in true pity of Krieg or faking it. Either way, it did make him look 20% cooler.

Sanji watched the rubbery boy with one eye.

Krieg lost the sneer, face turned completely unamused, "What was that?"

"You heard me," Luffy said almost bored, "That sea would eat you up and spit you out. You're too weak. In body, mind, soul, like everything. Whatever category there is, a high chance you are just weak in it, does that make sense?"

Oyal raises their hand, "Yes. As a mathematician, I have gathered the necessary data to evaluate his skills," they flipped their journal to a random page, "By looking at him for five minutes I have deduced with the conclusion that he is indeed... pathetic."

Zoro didn't bother to hide his laugh at that. Even a few of the chefs let a chuckle slip even though the fear was still there.

Don Krieg felt a blood vessel pop, "Give me your information," he ordered this time, oh scary, "Once I organize another pirate fleet, I'll get the One Piece! Then, I'll become the Pirate King!"

Wait, what? "Hold on there, bud! The only one to be Pirate King will be me!"

Patty, coming out from his shock, easily turned back to pissed, "You're no match for him!" he yelled.

Sanji keeps his tongue still, watching with interest.

Luffy grunts, "I'm not standing down, especially on this point," King means King and that means him.

"What did you say, boy?" Don Krieg tried to look scary, "I'm giving you one chance to take that back."

"You don't have to. I'm just announcing the truth," Luffy folds his arms, like an adult talking to a child.

"This is no game," Murder was written across Krieg's face.

"Of course it isn't," Luffy agreed easily, "But I'm still going to win. Afterall I'm the one who actually survived the Grand Line!"

"Buuuuuuurn!" Usopp whisper-yelled, physically unable to stop himself.

Krieg ignores him, "I'm going to give this food to my subordinates and then return back here. The only thing I need is this ship and Zeff's travel log. If any of you still feel like dying after I warned you, then so be it! I'll bury you to the bottom of the sea!"

Krieg left with a dramatic whoosh of his cape, leaving a shocked Gin and several stunned chefs. No customers though, as they have all made their exit out the back entrance of the restaurant. Zeff and all the cooks stayed.

Zeff turned to Luffy, "You though… you have sailed the Grand line?"

Luffy gives a wide grin, "Yeah!"

Zeff gives him a look up and down… "And survived?"

Luffy waved his hand in a 'sort of' motion, "Living is perspective."

Zeff raised a brow at this kid, "You're a strange one alright."

Luffy thumbed his hat, "Yeah, but the best pirates are!"

Gin was shaking on the floor, "I-" he looked unbelievably guilty, "Sanji... Owner... Please forgive me! I had no idea, no idea at all that this would happen! I… I needed to feed my men. I never would've imagined things to turn out this way."

Zeff huffs, "I don't need an apology from the likes of you, fool! We are but cooks in this establishment. We'll feed anybody who comes along."

Sanji huffed out some smoke, "We feed people food. That's what cooks do."

All current chefs were pissed at that. They could not get mad at the boss. He was the boss! What he says goes...

But Sanji...

Some would feel a great amount of regret but with a life on open sea there were times in your life that you got to point a gun at your crew member. "You're being Krieg's little puppet, Sanji!" "How could you feed that monster, he should have starved!" "I've had enough of your nonsense!" They took their rage out on the youngest chef.

Tobio moved forward to defend him, "Hey, leave him alone! You big bastards!"

Ganzo is quick to pick his grandson up, "No, Tobio! This is not our fight," They had only been there for four days. While still on good term with the chefs, but there was an unsaid code around here and Ganzo knew he didn't know enough to keep his boy out of trouble.

Even Zeff watched seeing how his eggplant would defend himself.

Sanji wasn't even phased at the gun pointed at him, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. He slowly opened out his arms, "Do it. If you wanna shoot me, do so," his voice echoed, "I'm aware. I know that he's a hopeless bully. But that's none of my business. I don't care. I don't care what happens after they had their meal. Not a care in the world. I'm a chef. Nothing more. When people are hungry, I offer them food. That's all there is to it. For a chef, Isn't that enough?"

That shut them up, but the guns were still not going down. There was a tense atmosphere in the air and no one was willing to break it.

"HEY!" Luffy shouted before anyone could make a move on Sanji, "I just said I would kick his ass after they eat, so just let Sanji cook," he took a seat in his chair leaning back, "So put your awesome bazooka thing away and just let me handle this"

Patty slowly put his custom-made SYRUP MEATBALL CANNON, a cannon in the shape of a lobster, down, "You-! You ain't involved with this!" he pointed to Sanji, "This is all his fault and his reckless actions! I know you feed the customer I chase away from time to time, and I'm not going to say who was right and who was wrong for those times… but this! It's all your fault!"

Oyal coughs in their hand, "While I understood your line of thinking, this is not the most logical decision within the context of this situation, it does seem to be the best," they look over to Sanji, "But, this being a restaurant, it is only logical to think that people will be served first. All other actions must be calculated after this stable factor."

The chefs looked dumbly at the kid while Carne gathered himself together first, "We'd know better than that! Those pirates will be attacking us later on! We shouldn't have aided them!" Carne finally faced the moment of truth, "Owner! Why are you siding with Sanji? What's going on here?"

The chefs finally put down their guns as the boss took center stage, "Yeah! This is all his fault!" "He's going to destroy your precious restaurant!"

"Shut the hell up, you stupid eggplants!" Zeff spat at each one of them, "Have you ever had the experience of starving to death? Can you imagine how horrible it is? Having no food and water in this vast ocean?"

Patty was the only brave enough to ask, "W-what do you mean, Owner?"

Zeff point to Sanji, "The difference between all of you and Sanji is that he knows that feeling."

The chefs fell silent at that, letting that statement sink in, "Do you mean..." "He can't be serious, right?" "I never thought..."

Zeff pointed to himself, "Rather than just standing idle with petty talk, you'd all better leave this place now!" he looked to the front entrance, eyes filled with determination, "I'm staying right here to fight! I can't simply let them trample over me!"

The chefs were offended as they start picking up their weapons one by one, "Me too!" "This is where I work!" "I have no place to go to anyway."

Gin got on his knees, not quite believing what just happened, "Sanji... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen," he chokes up, "But you shouldn't fight him!"

"Hey, Gin," Sanji said in a deadly serious voice, "Feeding the hungry is what being a cook is all about. However, now that your captain's all filled up, he's nothing more than a plunderer," his eye lost all their warmth in just a second, "Whatever I do to your pals, don't come bitchin' at me. I'll kill anybody who tries to take this restaurant! Even you! Got that?"

Gin's jaw dropped. Not from any fear of that promise but out of... shock! This was Don Krieg they were talking about, not just another plunderer and Sanji knew this. But he was still going to fight? And helped in the first place? Gin rarely felt respect for others, but this was a man who knew what his convictions were. No matter the situation he wasn't going to let anyone or anything change that.

Patty sneers, "Heh! You saved his life just to kill him off? You're so thoughtful, Sanji."

Sanji rolled his eye, "Shut up, you fat-ass cook!"

Zoro, getting bored with just watching the chefs fighting each other, thought about what Luffy said, "Hey Gin, who defeated you on the Grand Line anyway?"

Gin shakes his head, body shivering from the memory of that night, "The truth is... I don't know anything. What happened at the Grand Line on the seventh day... Was it a dream? Or reality? It's still fresh in my mind," sweat ran down his face, eyes went blank, "It was unbelievable... Just one man... Destroyed a whole fleet of 50 ships!"

Everyone who was not a time traveler stare, "WHAT?!"

Gin talks like he was in another world, "It all happened so suddenly. He showed up out of nowhere and started sinking our ships, one after the other. If a storm hadn't come along, our maiden ship would've been destroyed too," he took a shaky breath, "I have no idea how many of my mate's ships survived. But it was too scary for me to accept it all. I don't want to even think about what had happened! That man... His stare pierces through you, Like the eyes of a hawk!"

Zoro's eyes sharpen, sitting up, "What did you say?"

Zeff looked on cooly, "That guy... He must be the man known as Hawk Eyes. The fact that you noticed his eyes leads me to believe that it was him. It all sounds like something he would do."

Usopp started to shake a bit, "The Hawk Eyes Man! Eh, you know that guy, Zoro?"

Zoro nodded, " That's the man I've been looking for. I sailed across the oceans in search of him."

Johnny grinned, "I told you he was around here, bro!" thumbing to himself.

"Hawk-eyed man," one chief said, "If it's that red-eyed man, I remember him coming to this shop before." Another nodded his head, "Right, you mean the guy who got so pissed drunk from wine that his eyes turned red," another recalled the event, "Yeah that idiot who caught on fire and blew up. Heh, heh, that was quite a sight."

Johnny slowly lowered his thumb, "Well... I guess it was destiny!"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT!" Zoro yelled.

"Destiny..." Oyal murmurs. But it was true, that the chance that Johnny's misleading information and Mihawk's appearance both happened were astronomical, and nevertheless it happened. Such a strange world, all variables must be accounted for. Fascinating.

Sanji speaks up, "Maybe he had some kind of grudge to settle with you guys."

Gin shook his head, "Not that I know of."

Zeff folded his arms over his chest, "Perhaps you disturbed his nap."

"Stop the bullshit!" Gin yelled out of anger or out of desperation, "Why in the world would he destroy our fleet just for that?"

Zeff shrugged, "Don't get so worked up. I'm just making assumptions. Stuff like that happens at the Grand Line."

Usopp rolls his eyes, "Just what kind of place is that?"

"A place where anything can happen," Oyal supplies uselessly, "A place where logic and reason are pushed to the limits."

"Can't you be more concerned about your safety?" Usopp snapped.

"Even with faulty information," Johnny squirmed a bit under Zoro's glare, "At least it is clear now my destination really will be the Grand Line," Zoro smiles, "That man, I can definitely meet him there!"

Sanji barely glanced their way, "Are you morons? You must be those who are eager to die."

Zoro looked cooley over at Sanji, "That's right. But it's none of your business," there was no heat in his stare, no competition or annoyance, just one person talking to another, "When I decided to become the greatest swordsman in the world, I threw away the rest of my life. I'm the only one who can say that I'm an idiot."

Luffy grinned, his crew is so awesome! "Same!"

Usopp folded his arms out puffing out his chest, "As a man of the sea, same here!

"Liar," Zoro hits him gently with the hilt of his sword.

Sanji looked away in anger but not exactly at them, "Fools."

Oyal couldn't say they disagree, "Luffy aims to become the freest man on the sea," leaning over for Sanji's ears only, "But rather than mold himself to fit the world's standards he plans to mold the world to fit his standards. Logically."

Sounded more like insanity, "How selfish," Sanji settles on saying.

Oyal, for the first time since Sanji has met them, grins, "Yes, he is."

Zeff smirks, pleased with what he was hearing.

Patty started stomping his foot, "Hey, hey! Do you bastards realize what's going on here? Don Krieg's ship is right in front of this restaurant! Do all the talking only after we get out of this mess!"

Gin struggled to see what to do, "I'll…"

Luffy waved his hand, "Go feed you, crew," they really don't deserve you, "I'll deal with them later!"

Yosaku and Johnny looked at each other, "We'll fight too!" "Yeah!" "Can you imagine the bounty we can get with that guy!"

Tobio picked up a fork weapon, "Yeah, this our home now!"

Ganzo shakes his head, "I'm getting too old for..." he looks out the window, "...this. They are coming!"

There was rumbling heard throughout the ship. They could feel the pirates starting to awake with the sound of a war cry screaming throughout the air. The chefs' grabbed on to their weapons, ready to be boarded and go for an all-out battle.

Luffy sipped his water, "Hmmm… Why do I feel like something's going to happen…" man his memory is shitty.

Oyal holds onto their chair, "Because, he is here."

Luffy feels the presence, "Ah," He put down his drinks, "Well ,that was fast."

Zoro looks at the both of them, "What are you-"

FWOOOSH!

It was a strange sound. A sound none of the chefs or newly awakened pirates have ever heard and therefore barely registered what was going on.

As it was, it is not every day an entire ship is cut in half like that.

The chefs looked in shock, "W-What? What's going on?" "The ship's been split in two! The ship's been split in two!"

The current from the sinking ship was huge… and cause for concern!

Johnny and Yosaku stood up from their chairs as the Baratie wobbled from the impact, "This is a problem!" "What about the Merry?!"

Zeff started barking orders around, "Rise the anchor! Get this ship going else it is gonna get dragged under!"

"Yes, sir!" Several chefs went to the more boat part of the restaurant.

Tobio held his pitch fork tightly in his hand turning to Oyal, "What was that?"

Oyal doesn't hesitate to pat the boy's head, they mentally congratulating themself to tolerate human contact at this point, "Just an overdramatic pirate," they say simply, "What else could it be?"

The astronomer holds back as the room cleared out. The Chefs were manning their stations and the Straws Hats were following the bounty hunters outside.

Soon the room was empty but two.

They made their way to the prone figure still on the ground, "Gin, I presume..."

The man looked like he took a punch to the gut, eyes hollow, face pained. He didn't answer them. Doesn't even lift his head.

Oyal sighs, "I presume correctly then," they chewed on their lip, "I also presume that I know your situation and in that, I offer to you my services," they held out a hand, "Please give me our hand."

Gin does look up at that, for no other reason but to make it clear that he wanted to be left alone.

"I only ask because this is of the utmost importance," hand still out, "Please."

Gin glares but slowly gave his hand to the kid.

Oyal has to use both their hands to hold Gin's, turning his hand palm up, looking inside. He agreed to their conditions out of his own free will. They now had his hand. They brushed their fingers lightly from the base of his hand to his fingertips. They were rough with use and wear. Oyal wonders how many people he had killed with these hands.

Little pages started forming on Gin's hands. A number appeared. Ah. That many.

"The hell...?" Gin was sure he should be panicking a bit more but he was just... so tired. Sure, his hand was becoming paper. This might as well happen.

Oyal looks through the pages collecting information. Age: 28. Birth: April 7. Height: 173cm. Bounty: 15,000,000. Skills. Experience. Etc. All data they could think of what to get on this man. Useful to meaningless. Serious to silly. Any data was good data in their mind.

And what they found gave them a feeling... a feeling they didn't precisely hate but rather much avoid... annoyance.

"Listen to me well," they grit out, "You have potential for someone in this sea. Being a commander of 50 ships, all under a fairly incompetent captain, but 50 ships is 50 ships. And that is why it is an insult to reason itself that someone of your talent is being held back," they put emphasis on each word.

Gin stares at them, not really understanding...

"I see great things in your future," I see nothing, "A great fortune to be had. But only if you get rid of that man."

Gin grinds his teeth, the first sign of emotion he has had, "You don't know anything!"

"Your loyalty is admirable," steamrolling over that fact, "how you never leave him behind and are always willing to sacrifice your own safety for his," control your emotions, "but there is a difference between loyalty and blind following," few people seem to understand, "You are following a man to your own ruin, did you forget you are your own man? Are you some object to be used and thrown away?"

Gin flinches, "Krieg would never-"

"He would," they stress, "You know it. I know it. He did it to his own brother unless you choose to forget that fact."

Gin had the decency to flinch at that, "That… That was different. Ganzack would be safer-"

"Please spare me the excuses. Denying facts will get you nowhere," deep breathing, control yourself, "A Captain and his crew is not a one-sided relationship. You serve your captain and he serves you as well," how can they get him to listen, "He has failed his duty in that, in fact, he never even upheld them in the first place. All his goals have been for himself, never the crew," please listen to me, "You... are so much more than a tool to be used. You are worth so much more than that."

They knew people can be tools. People can be used and thrown away. They knew this. They planned for this. But to see a person being misused, "You believe in the strong. You are strong," they gave Gin his hand back, "Make your own choices."

They left for the door as well. They didn't want to be like Krieg. Not only was he a fool, misusing and wasting the potential of people he has at his disposal, but he was... like them. They didn't want to be like them...

Oyal shakes their head. This was too many emotions and too little time. They would come back to this conversation on a later note. They moved to join their crew on the edge of the Baratie, a little ways away from the chef's attention to the front of the Baratie.

"Nami Sis!" the Straw hats and company looked around the turbulent ocean not finding their last member.

Luffy waved his hands finally reaching them, "It's fine, she already went on ahead to our next location."

Usopp's jaw dropped, "What?! That ship was given to us by Kaya!"

Luffy nodded, "Yup," popping the 'p' at the end.

Usopp grabbed him by the coat and started shaking him, "And you are letting it be run by one person! She isn't a dingy! She needs a crew"

Zoro looked to the horizon, "Hold up! I can see her! It's the Going Merry!"

Oyal sighs, "We shall catch up with her later. More importantly…" they turned to the sinking barge, "We have a birdy to deal with."

Luffy laughed despite his rubber head bobbing back and forth, "Yeah, Zoro, you got some ass to kick!"

Usopp huffed putting his captain down, "Fine! We'll deal with the evil Grand Line bastard first. What a pain-in-the-ass captain."

Oyal points to the bounty hunters, "You two, ready your boat. This won't take long and I don't want to let Nami out of our sight too soon," they have no clue on how to navigate to Cocoyashi Village, but these two do.

Both bounty hunters salute the astronomer, "Right!" and started preparing their boat.

Zoro glares down at them, "Won't take long, huh?"

Shit! "I do not mean to be rude, Zoro, but I am afraid that this encounter will not last as long as you would like it to."

Zoro stared straight ahead, "You don't know that."

"Yes, I do," they said just as roughly.

"No. You. Don't," Zoro snapped, turning towards them, "You think you know everything and sure you know a lot," he admitted easily, "But you don't know me and you don't know what I am willing to do," he looked back on his goal, "And no phony baloney god is going to tell me otherwise."

Oyal didn't respond. Neutral as always.

That pissed Zoro off more than anything, "You know what your problem is?" he glared at them, folding his arms.

"Please," their voice boarderlining sarcasm, "Do tell."

"You always have to be in control," he pointed a finger at them but didn't touch, "A control freak. If one thing isn't under your eye, you flip."

"That is correct," they couldn't let one thing go past them, not one thing. Anything could be of use. And anything missed was on her.

If the agreement surprised Zoro, he didn't show it, "But you can't be perfect," he thought about all the times they found weird shit that was 'useful' whatever that means, "Knowing what is going to happen isn't the same as being in control."

"I can't afford perfection," Oyal has thought about this for years, they lived on the Grand Line after all. Perfect. 100%. An impossible number. "Nothing is 100% and I can't afford to waste my time and energy on impossible, so I must just accept circumstances. I must work with what I have and calculate the outcome of my efforts."

They couldn't keep starting and stopping. They were dealing with time again. It was always moving too fast for their liking. They have to get organized and that meant understanding time. Luffy might not understand the concept of time but they do and they plan to use it. Time does not stop, mistakes happen, the most logical thing is to deal with it. Getting emotional or upset only wasted that precious time that can be useful. There was so much to keep track of.

"You must be perfect though," Oyal shoots back, "You must be the greatest. 100% undefeated," if the bandana wasn't in the way Zoro was sure they would be looking at him in the eye, "You are going to become the world's greatest swordsman, that is only the most logical outcome, so don't think I don't know. You are the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates," they take a breath, "So you have no choice but to be the greatest. The strongest belong together."

Zoro stares at them. They stare right back.

He huffs, looking away and folding his arms, "Control freak."

Oyal felt their lips twitch, strange, "Mindless brute."

While they liked to think they were getting better at emotions, relations were still quite new. What they had with Zoro was... illogical. Strange. By words alone they did not seem to get along in the conventional way as he did with Luffy, yet it was not as hostile as him with Sanji… It seemed to be more like Zoro and Nami's interactions but without the fear/respect, he has for her. This banter... this meaningless playfulness, this reminded them of…

"Look! Over there! It's a man!" One of the chefs saw the figure in the distance.

Several of the pirates saw him too, screaming exposition, "The man who destroyed our fleet!" "That man is- That scum! He's come this far to kill us!" "We're doomed!"

Zoro felt the air leave his body at the sight. A lone man on a raft, too small to be a boat but perfect to be a coffin, floating casually between the sinking barge.

He was a tall man pale skin and a black goatee, dressed in an outfit that was the personification of red wine. There was a small golden cross around his neck and a huge black sword on his sword's blade was of gold and jewel encrusted, looking far more ceremonial than combative. But what was most striking of all was his gold eyes. Eye of a hawk hunting its prey.

"So..." Tobio looked over the rails, "Does everyone in the Grand Line look that extra?"

"Yup," Luffy, Oyal, and even Zeff answer without hesitating.

Usopp looked over being the only one confused, "So, I take it that's him?"

"The man I've been searching for," Zoro looked with both fear and excitement, "Hawk Eyes Mihawk."

"Hawk Eyes Mihawk?" Patty repeated from his side of the Baratie his head going out on the barge himself.

Carne rubbed his chin, "The strongest swordsman in the world! That's the guy who instantly sank Krieg's fleet of 50 ships, which should've withstood the Grand Line? And he... Just destroyed another one of Krieg's ships!"

One of the chefs tried to get a better look, "But... he looks no different from any other ordinary person. And he doesn't seem to be armed with anything special."

Zeff looked on gravely, "His weapon's on his back."

The chefs' gasped, "No way, you can't mean?!" "He destroyed that huge ship with that sword?!"

"He's the great swordsman, Hawk Eyes," Zeff said with no little distaste, "A swordsman above all of the world's swordsmen. I never thought I'd be able to meet him so soon."

Oyal looked at him. By their time graph, he should have retired around 9 years ago as Sanji was 10 when they met. That meant that if Zeff and Mihawk started their career right after Roger's death they didn't meet once in the 11 years they were at sea. They didn't know if Mihawk had a name for himself yet or if Zeff was one of the crews of the original pirate era but it is a theory, nonetheless.

Their own gaze locked onto those eyes, "Finally, the destined time has come."

One of the pirates started to panic at the sight of death incarnated, pulling out two guns foolishly thinking they could protect him "Bastard! Why did you attack us?"

Mihawk looked at him like he was a flea, "To kill time," he said badassly.

"Bullshit!" he foolishly tried to shoot the man.

Tried being used correctly, as Mihawk just swerved all the bullets away from himself to the other side.

"W-What?!" the pirate confuddled, "I'm sure I was right on target!"

"It deviated," Zoro said right behind the confused pirate, causing said pirate to scream at the sudden appearance of a person behind him. How did he not notice this guy sneaking aboard the sinking barge? "He redirected it with the tip of his sword," he explained it like a nerd.

Several of the pirates on the sinking barge took notice of the sudden presence, "That's ridiculous!" "Hey! Who the hell are you?" "Swords, three of 'em! Could it be?!"

Zoro ignored them all, eyes never leaving Mihawk, "I've never seen such graceful skill."

Luffy called over, "Zoro, stop fangirling and get with it!"

Mihawk heard Zoro all the same, "A sword with power alone is not powerful."

Zoro tried to ignore the damn brat he called a captain in favor of his dream being right in front of him, "So this ship was cut apart with that sword, too?"

"Of course."

"It's clear now," Zoro grin was feral, his body already shaking at the thought of battle, "You're the strongest! I've been sailing the seas to face you."

Mihawk looked on as neutral as... well... Oyal, "What's your mission?"

Zoro tied his bandana around his head, "To be the best!"

Mihawk had a ghost of a smirk on his face but didn't quite cut it, "Fool."

"You've got time to spare, don't you?" Zoro pointed his sword at Mihawk, "Let's duel, shall we?"

The other pirates started getting wiser, "This guy is Zoro! The ''Three Swords'' Roronoa Zoro!" "What?! Pirate hunter, eh?" "That guy?"

"EX-PIRATE HUNTER!" Luffy shouts from the side.

Usopp, like any friend did, turned his gaze away from the two swordsmen back at the horizon, "Hey! Things are getting worse, Luffy! Going Merry is about to be gone from our sights!" Luffy didn't even look phased, "Hey! Luffy!"

"This is his dream, usopp," Luffy says softly, "I promise to never get in his way," his smiles a humorless smile, "Even if I order him to stop he won't. So that's why we are standing here. Watching."

Usopp opens and closes his mouth, not sure what to say.

Oyal raised a hand to Usopp, breath hitching, "Just… it will be over soon Usopp," they knew it would be. They had seen this scene 3,425 times at this point and had studied every angle. The plain fact being that no amount of help was going to stop Zoro. What little training could make Zoro seem more of a foe and have Mihawk kill him (47%), any warning of attacks or powers would just make Zoro said that battle was dishonorable and may not fight (75%), and getting involved would only ruin Zoro's image in Mihawk's eye as a future equal (92%).

The fact of the matter was, Zoro was going to get hurt.

This was fact. They couldn't change it.

So why did it still hurt?

Mihawk didn't look the least bit amused but got off his coffin boat, "Duel? Such a pitiful weakling," Zoro met him on the same sinking wreckage, "If you really were a fine swordsman, You should've been able to judge the difference in strengths without drawing your sword," yet he was the one to get off the boat, "Challenging me... Are you that brave? Or simply reckless?"

"This is for my own ambition!" Zoro put his sword in his mouth, going all out on the first attack, "And for a promise to my fallen friend"

Yosaku was biting his fingernails, "What kind of fight will it turn out to be?"

Johnny looked far more confident, "No one can win against Zoro bro! Bro's the best!"

Zoro glared at the small piece of metal in Mihawk's hands, "Hey now, just what is that?"

"I'm unlike those idiots who use their all to hunt rabbits," Mihawk held up his small butter knife, "Though you're famous enough to be called a swordsman, this is the weakest of the four oceans, East Blue. Unfortunately, I'm carrying nothing smaller than this," he said with genuine pity.

"There is a limit on how much you can underestimate me!" Zoro said with a tingle of anger, "Just don't regret it when you die!" Zoro places Wado Ichimonji, Kurina's blade, in his mouth.

Oyal shifted on their feet. How could he even believe he had a chance of winning? The percentage was 0.004% of him defeating Mihawk at this stage. But it was in his nature. It was his reasoning and they could not do anything about it. It would be stranger if he backed down.

"Hear me well, little fish," Mihawk held his butter knife almost menacingly, "You're but someone who's yet to experience the real world."

"DEMON CUT!" Zoro attacked without hesitation.

Clink!

Only for all three swords to be stopped by the single butter knife.

Johnny's jaw dropped, "Wh-what?! Zoro Bro's demon technique was broken!"

"But, that has always worked 100% of the time!" Yosaku looked equally as surprised, "What in the world happened?!"

Zoro tried to budge his swords but….he couldn't move them! What just happened? No one could avoid this technique before, but Mihawk stopped it with just his toy. This... is this really happening? This is strength... it's so far from what Zoro has known before.

A world shouldn't be this far off! That can't be! He can't be this far behind!

It's like Luffy's. His warnings and claims of such an unspeakable power. Cutting nothing. Cutting everything. Zoro took his offer of getting stronger at his word. He knew that he still had much to learn but this… he saw the glimpse of the top and he… was still so far down.

Zoro finally got out of Mihawk's hold and started cutting at will. It was more his body moving than his mind at this point. Nothing but years of training now put into action.

"Come on, ZORO BRO!" Johnny cheered, "Show him what you've really got!"

"Come on!" Yosaku cheered.

Even Usopp took it up, "Beat him up, Zoro!"

"He is losing his cool…" Oyal observes, "Mihawk is egging him on and he is just… letting him."

"Such unrestrained skill," Mihawks gracefully deflected every single one of Zoro's slices.

"I didn't come all this way to lose against this toy-like thing!" Zoro shouted on the edge of desperation. Kuina was counting on him. This wasn't just his dream, this was their dreams. A dream big enough for the both of them. He promised. He promised her! To become the greatest in the world he had to become strong, for her sake too, "My strength will even reach the heavens! I'm going to become the strongest in the world!" He promised he will... if he could just defeat this man!

"What burdens you so? Why do you seek the ultimate power," Mihawk looked down upon him, "you weakling?"

"Bro's a weakling you say?" Johnny repeated, "You damn bastard! I'll teach you a thing or two!" Yosaku rolled up a fist. Both boys were ready to jump off the ship to save their bro's honor!

Luffy held them both back easily by the scuffs of their necks, "Stop! Yosaku! Johnny! Don't interfere! Just hang on!" He held them down to the floor, "This isn't just a fight..." his eyes never left Zoro, "This is a matter of man's pride."

Usopp nods, understanding what Luffy was saying. He comes face to face with the bounty hunters, "This is his dream! We can't interfere with his battle!"

Zoro rolled back regaining his position, "I can't afford to lose! TIGER-"

Not only is Kurina counting on him but… Luffy.

He told Luffy that he was going to be the world's greatest swordsman. He told him. Promised him! Only the best can be on the Pirate King's ship. He had to accomplish at least the world's great otherwise it would be embarrassing to his Captain! The Future King of the Pirates!

Oyal. Even that brat knew what it was worth. Even they had faith that he will be the greatest, no matter what their excuses are, it was faith. Told him that he will be the greatest, ordered him that he had to be the greatest. To be the First Mate. The greatest belong with one another. They are attracted to each other. He promised.

"-HUNTING PREY!"

SHINK!

Zoro is stabbed in the chest.

"BRO!" His boys were losing it at the sight of their brother being hurt.

Luffy's face was carefully controlled, trying to hold back Conqueror's Haki that might come when he saw his nakama hurt. This was his fight and Luffy knew he would lose this battle but he would win in the end.

Oyal's only reaction was clenching their teeth. As useless as this fighting was, this was Zoro's fight. This was a necessary set back in order to spring him forward to match Mihawk in the future. This was necessary.

There was a pause in battle as Mihawk simply held the knife in his prey's chest, waiting for Zoro to make the next move.

He was not expecting Zoro to move the slightest bit forward.

Mihawk's eyes, eyes that have been nothing but cold and bored this whole time, came to life for the first time, widening in surprise, "Do you wish to have this go through your heart? Why don't you step back?"

Zoro breathed a little bit of blood falling down, "I don't know. I'm not sure why myself," he gritted his teeth through the pain, "But if I were to take even one step back, I believe... all those important oaths, promises, and many other deals 'till now, will all go to waste... and I'll never be able to return before you, ever again."

Mihawk's stare was as cold as stone and just as unmoving, "Yes, such is defeat."

Zoro has the audacity to laugh, "That's why I can't step back."

"Even if it means death?"

Zoro grinned, "Death may be better!"

Mihawk didn't budge, his eyes were still as cold and hard but there was a glimmer of something… more, "Kid, announce your name!" he took out the butter knife.

Zoro didn't even flinch, "Roronoa Zoro!" he went into his next position.

"I'll remember that!" Mihawk grabbed his sword hanging on his back, "It's been a while since I've seen such strong will," and effortlessly held the giant black blade in his hands, Kuro one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords, "As a reward, a gesture to a fellow swordsman, I will wield the Black Sword', the most powerful sword in the world, to end your life."

Oyal… was not sure what just happened, "How did he… get that off his back without bending over?"

"Manliness," Luffy and Usopp folded their arms in respect.

Zoro smirked, "I appreciate your offer," This is his last chance. World's number one or death?

Johnny and Yosaku were on their knees, "That's enough, Bro! Please stop!"

"THREE SWORDS SECRET TECHNIQUE!" Zoro started his move and for just a slip second, a second that most people never see in a lifetime, Mihawk looked impressed, "THREE THOUSAND REALMS!"

And probably the world's greatest cut Zoro right in half.

Two swords broke like chopsticks. His next words slipped through unconsciously, "I lost," Losing wasn't something he'd ever imagined possible. So this was what it was like to possess the greatest power in the world?"

Zoro put away his swords with as much grace as a man bleeding out could. He turned back to his foe behind him, making sure that every part of him was facing forward and held his arms out wide.

Again, Mihawk was surprised, "What's this?" To be surprised not once but twice in a day. And somewhere in the East Blue. Truly no more unexpected things can happen.

Blood started coming out Zoro's mouth in greater quantity, "A wound on one's back is the shame of a swordsman."

Mihawk was wrong as he felt his third surprise for today. A smile creeped on his face, "Well said."

And with another slash, the wound on Zoro's chest was formed. A scar that will follow him to death and beyond. Zoro dropped Kuina's sword as he barely stood. It was in that second that Mihawk felt a powerful aura. It was so fast and so subtle that most would just assume it was a chill at the sight of the fallen demon three-swordsman.

But no, Mihawk knew better. This was the power of someone of the Grand Line, the power to destroy thousands of enemies at once without hesitation or mercy.

This was the power… of a king.

Mihawk refocused on the one bleeding out in front of him, "Don't rush your death, young lad."

"Zoro!" "Bro!" Johnny and Yosaku were not ashamed to let their tears flow.

Usopp had only a sliver of more self-control, "ZORO!" but only a sliver.

Sanji watches horrified, "Why?" he thought about the guy's dream of being the best, "That guy and his stupid ideas. His opponent was the true world's greatest," it pissed him off to no end. Why, why, why?! Why is this guy so focused on something that he could never have.

Oyal would have similar thoughts. If they ever allowed themselves to think, that is. The chances of rain, 13%. The chances of wind, 67%. The chances of fish, 89%. The chances of Zoro- No. No. Don't focus on that. Don't think about how much blood Zoro is losing (47%) or how close he was to dying (78%) or how he is about to pass out (97%). Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

"The result was obvious!" Sanji yelled over the railings, "Why didn't you give up your ambitions, realizing inevitable death?" he yelled into the sea as the swordsman fell back presumably into the sea, "It's simple! To abandon your ambitions!"

Before Zoro could so much as touch the ocean water a rubbery arm caught him flawlessly and carried him over. It was the most controlled rubber band hand Luffy had ever done.

"Damn! Damn! DAMN IT!" "BRO!" Johnny and Yosaku were over Zoro immediately, treating his wounds.

"What the hell is that?" "That kid's got the ability of a devil fruit?" Some of the chefs and pirates asked. But Luffy and Mihawk ignored the fodder, instead focusing on each other. At that moment there was only those two.

Mihawk made eye contact with the monster in front of him. There were few things that could affect Mihawk but he did stand a bit straighter at the sight. Eyes black as hell and a coat of red. And a dumb straw hat. This was not the gaze of a boy. No, this was the gaze of a man. Dare he say, an equal.

But that's impossible. This was the East Blue. An unheard equal here? But then again, that Straw Hat. He had no doubt Red Haired had something to do with this.

"You're the young swordsman's comrade?" he called out to the monster, "Thank you for watching over him. As you can see, that man's still alive."

Oyal and Usopp got more bandages as Johnny and Yosaku tried to stop the bleeding from his chest, "Bro! Bro! Say something!" "Zoro! Zoro!"

"Here, quickly get him on the ship!" Usopp started to shout orders, "Here's some medicine! Apply it quickly!"

Mihawk looked at the... dare he say rival bleeding on the floor, "It's still too early for you to die," he put his own sword away, "My name is Dracule Mihawk. Find your true self, true world, become stronger. No matter how long it will take, I will await you in my strongest form!" his voice raised near the end of his declaration, "Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!"

Yosaku and Johnny started cleaning Zoro's wounds as Usopp and Oyal stand back a bit, "Bro! Bro! Say something!"

Usopp placed a hand on Oyal's, totally not shaking, shoulder, "He is going to be okay."

"I know," they whispered. They knew. They knew. They knew from the very beginning that he was going to be okay, "I am just being illogical..."

Usopp squeezed their hand, "Feeling isn't bad. It just happens."

"Annoying."

"For Hawk Eyes Mihawk to declare such words..." Zeff looked impressed.

Ganzo let out a sigh, "Pirates are always so over-dramatic," he was sure that fight just took off another decade of his life.

Tobio was shaking himself, not completely sure if it was fear or excitement but his blood was pumping, "Zoro... so cool..."

Declaration said, Mihawk turned his eyes to… his fellow hunter, "Kid, what's your mission?"

"Pirate King!" The adult said simply.

Mihawk smirked, of course, "That's a difficult path, harder than surpassing me."

Luffy being the absolutely adult man he was, stuck his tongue out, "Wouldn't be a big deal if it wasn't!"

He never really spoke to his First Mate's master before. He only interacted with him at Marineford and after… well… everything else he kinda disappeared off the map, never to be seen again. But he was a teacher through and through, when he aimed to cut Luffy hands off, he meant it. But it was like Mihawk was motivating him to be better, even at the risk of his own safety.

Over the years Luffy never lost the respect he had for the man, training Zoro and making him the absolute beast he is always meant to be. This was the man Zoro swallowed his pride to, bowing his head pushed aside his dream in order to get stronger for Luffy. He could never truly appreciate him the way Zoro does but there is respect nonetheless. After all, this man has the honor of being defeated by his First Mate!

"His bleeding is coming down!" Usopp yelled, thankfully,. "He just lost consciousness!"

Johnny and Yosaku were a mess, "Bro... You Monster!" "Always pushing yourself! Zoro!"

And then there was silence from the sobbing. Because with one fluid motion Zoro lifted his sword to the heavens, "BRO!"

"Luffy... can you... hear me?" his voice was weak but it echoed throughout the entire sea. Every fish below and every bird above could hear him.

Luffy looked at his first mate, "Yeah."

"... Sorry for disappointing you," his first apology, "If I don't become the greatest swordsman in the world... it will only embarrass you!"

Luffy felt his throat go dry at that statement... How could he forget about this…

Zoro coughed up his blood much to his soul brothers dismay, "Bro! Don't say any more!" "Bro!"

But disobey a direct order. Luffy put a hold to getting the Merry and Nami back for him. He told him to kick ass, to win. A Captain's order is law and he had tot the shame to completely go against it. He is truly grateful Luffy let him have this chance and he has to let him know… that it was worth it!

"I SWEAR!" Zoro shouted over them, over everyone, "I will... I will never LOSE AGAIN!" it was a sob, "UNTIL THE DAY I FIGHT HIM AND BECOME THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN I SWEAR…" it was a promise, "TO NEVER LOSE AGAIN!" the promise was heard by deities and devils alike, "ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT, PIRATE KING?"

This is where is all changed isn't it? Zoro lost this day and something in him changed forever… he learned a hard lesson he never wanted to know. That he was so far from his goal. It changed him, how he looked at his sword, how he looked at his training, how he looked at life. He had to take a good long look at himself and see…

He was weak…

A fact that is never easy to swallow. One that nobody wants to hear… but you have to. You have to in order to improve. One defeat taught him more than a thousand victories… he had to accept that he isn't the best, no where near the best… but he has to will to overcome any and every challenge he will face from then on.

Luffy felt his his heart melt and his resolve strengthen a million times over as a smile wiggles it's way onto his face, "No-pe!" popping the p.

Mihawk looked the predator and hunter alike over, "A crew full of fools… you make a good team," he turned back to his ship thingy, "I hope we meet again."

"Hold on there, Hawk Eyes!" oh yeah, I forgot about that ugly guy, "Didn't you come for my head? East Blue's greatest, Don Krieg's head?"

Mihawk gracelessly stopped. "That was my initial intention. But I've had more than enough fun. I'm headed back to sleep."

Don looked a little crazed at being brushed off, "It may have been enough fun for you, but I haven't done my bit yet!" he got his guns ready.

"And then there are just the foolish..." Mihawk muttered getting his sword ready.

Till a rubber hand smacked Krieg into the sinking floorboards.

Everyone stopped to stare where the man once stood.

"Read the mood, asshole," Luffy retracted his hand back, "Get going," Luffy said casually to the Warlord, "Another wave will annoy my mate's wounds,"

Mihawk studied Shanks' kid once again. This brat... might just have a chance, "Farewell" and like that he dramatically got on his boat and was gone.

"He disappeared!" A chef said in half awe, half fear.

"No, he is just as dramatic as well," Oyal said, seriously was every pirate this theatrical?

Luffy looked to Usopp, "Usopp, go follow Nami," can't count on luck finding her again, "You're in charge, second mate!" he said with a smile.

Usopp smiled back "Gotcha! The three of us will definitely get Nami back!" Johnny got Zoro a better position as Oyal stood next to him, "You just make that cook become one of us! Then we'll make a party of six and head to the Grand Line!"

Oyal pushed Yosaku off the boat next to Luffy's feet.

He unsticked his face from the floor confused, "What?"

Oyal looked down at him, "We won't be able to catch up with Nami anyway," they have ran the scenario a thousand times over their head, "The Going Merry is too fast compared to this boat. But we still need to get to there as fast as we can," they pointed to the ship, "Me, Zoro, Usopp, and Johnny shall be Team 1 and follow her as fast as we can," they pointed at Luffy, "Team 2 will be Luffy, Sanji, and Yosaku who will follow us since Yosaku is the only one with navigational experience to know where they have to go."

Yosaku cocked his head, "Where is that?"

"We shall be going to Cocoyashi village," they monotony replied.

Yosaku choked on his tongue at that, "That's were-"

"We shall see you there," Oyal politely interrupted.

Yosaku looked to Johnny, Johnny looked worried but gave a thumbs up as a silent agreement went between the two, "It'd be a dangerous place," Yosaku agreed, "But we shall see you there!"

"Wait!" Luffy raised his hands, "We can't go like this!"

"Why?" Oyal had gone over this plan a thousand times, checked every angle. Was he simply upset they haven't run this plan by him before? Was there a flaw that they didn't account for? What-

"We need team names!" He shouted.

"Usopp start the boat, we are leaving," Oyal went back to their duties.

"Wait, no!" Luffy whined, "Real quick! You guys are..." he pointed to the four of them, "The Fishers!" he pointed to Yosaku and Sanji in the distance, "And we'll be the Fryers!"

Usopp gave a leveled stare, "... What does that have anything to do with-"

"Fine, yes, Fishers and Fryers, can we please just go!" Oyal put a pointed edge in their voice.

"Right!" Usopp furles the sails and their ship started leaving the port.

Oyal looked to their captain, "Luffy…" they have never been this long gone from him. This was… new.

Luffy smiled back full of confidence, "Yeah! Now go!" and like that Team 1/ The Fishers went to get their lost boat.

Luffwould watch them all the way back but… he cracks his knuckles, turning around to the Baratie, "Come on, Yosaku!"

"We got a fish to fry!"

OOO

I would like to thank The Patient One, Miep42, and MadGirl for editing!