~.~
It had been 4 days since they started fighting and the only thing keeping Perona from rushing to the small nekomimi's side was the red-haired pirates first-mate, who had to forcibly push her away. She of course fought back but she realized she was weak. The man didn't need to make a big effort to stop her attack and push her back. She had yet to cross the line he had made with his gun on the first day they landed.
"I'm sorry." Benn said finally as she once more felt to the ground. Perona's eyes widened as she finally grazed up at the man. It was the first time he spoke since all this had started. Her clothes were but rags, her nails all broken and her once beautiful pink hair looked dirty and greasy, no surprise since she had yet to take a bath since they landed on this godforsaken island. But how could she? How could she just take her time and relax when her captain was fighting without rest. She at least slept when darkness overtook her but Luffy wasn't permitted such luxury. It was painful, she was so close, she could see the battle as it just dragged on. She could see the wounds, the way her captain was bleeding but she was powerless to do anything. It was pure torture. Had she always been this weak? The illusion of power was shattered and all that remained was the feeling of hopelessness.
"I'm sure you think we are cruel." The man said and Luffy finally felt to the ground as the fourth day draw to an end. "And you are not completely wrong. Someday you will understand." The first-mate finally said as he stood up and fell in step with his captain. Perona couldn't help but glare at the red-haired man, a look of pure hatred on her face before she forced herself to move. Her legs refused to even twitch, so she gave up on them and crawled closer to the small boy who laid defeated on the ground.
"L-luffy," she sobbed and his eye fluttered open, one because the other was too swollen to. She chocked in a cry of relief and pushed herself even more so she could stand up somehow and place the boy's head into her lap.
"… I m-made you cry, s-sorry." He said with a wince and she couldn't help but sob even louder as she patted his hair gently. The pink haired girl was afraid to touch him, didn't want to cause him even more pain.
"No… is all my fault." The boy only give him an unimpressive glare. "I should have left you alone. You tried to save me and I brought you pain."
"Is not"
"I'll leave and everything will go back to the way things were so please stop this!"
"No." That word carried so much power that even she couldn't help but falter for a second. But only for a second.
"Please, I can -"
"No."
"But I don't want to make you hurt-"
"Then stay by my side."
"But"
"You are my nakama. I won't let you go back to him. If I have to I will storm Moria's ship to take you back. Your place is right here by my side." Luffy said as she reached out and wiped away her tears. "Seeing you cry like this, is more painful than the training I did."
"Training?!" Perona asked enraged. "This is not training, this is one way brutal beat-down."
"So that's what it looked like." The nekomimi said with a bitter voice. "I'm sorry you have such an uncool captain."
"What are you talking about? Uncool? Tell me how many teens can go head to head with a yonko?"
"Head-to-head? Shanks held back and I still lost."
"It doesn't matter; you were still cooler than that… man."
Seeing the hate on her face Luffy sighed. "Don't be angry at him. I made him do this, out from the two of us, this hurt him more than it hurt me."
"How can you say that?!"
"How can I not. His face… the entire time we fought he looked like he was about to start crying himself. He hates himself for hurting me."
"I…"
"Listen, this was by no way your fault. I had it coming. I was getting a big-head and thought I could take down a warlord all by myself." It was what set Shanks off in the first place. Not the fact that he rushed into things just because he felt like it, he was Luffy ,but his overconfidence. He knew he hadn't been like that in the beginning, but the fact that he remained undefeated outside of training sessions for so long made him become lazy and ignorant to the truth. He was only a small fish in the pod. It could get him killed one day so the man corrected it in the only way he knew it would stick. After all it was the reason Shanks was the captain and him the apprentice. That's why they fought, and Luffy had been decimated. He knew it since the battle started, he had been outclassed in almost every way, and it filled him with dread and awe. This was the captain of the red-haired pirates, this was the yonko, the apprentice of the Pirate King, Shanks true power to which he couldn't hold a candle. He tried everything he could and he came up short but at least he didn't give up. Even then he wasn't sure if it was his power that made the man continue the fight or if the man just played along. But the fact still remained he made the man do this, forced Shanks hand so like hell he'd fall that easily. He had his stupid pride to consider, and milked the opportunity for all it was. He knew he always strived in death and life situations and this had been one. Luffy managed to last for four days, and the feeling of constant danger upon his life, it had not been pleasant. How could one even fight when everything in his head screamed 'I'll be killed, I will die' at him? Even now just thinking about it he couldn't help but shudder slightly.
"I need to learn that I can't do everything alone… It's a lesson I thought I knew." Luffy replied with a small frown. Thinking back he had been constantly acting alone. All the time in almost every situation, the crew was there for him but he never even considered it seriously. Quite a bad habit and he had been rushing into yet another possibly deadly situation without even considering the crew's feelings. Should he apologize? Would it even be enough? Why was it so hard for him to ask for help? Had Perona not been there he would have surely shouted out in frustration by now, but he didn't want to show her such an uncool side of him yet again.
~.~
"I'll send doc with some food." Benn said silently as he followed Shanks and the man stopped and threw his sword at the sand before he looked at his blood-filled hands with disgust then marched into the sea to at least try and wash it off. The first-mate only watched in silence before the man let himself fell back and into water.
"Benn I… I might have done something awful." Shanks said and his trust-worthy first-mate walked up to him.
"Luffy isn't stupid. He understood."
"But I hurt him and he wouldn't back down, strong-headed bastard and and I just… " the man's voice was almost hysteric at that point. "…what if he hates me now?" Shanks asked in a small broken voice that seemed so unlike him that Benn had been taken aback.
"He doesn't."
"But-"
"He looks at you with eyes filled with admiration, there is no mistaking that. And anyone who doesn't see it is either blind or lying."
"No…he did so before this" the man motioned with hand vaguely. "happened… And I did this."
"He loves you. You are like a father to him. That kind of love doesn't just go away."
"Father? What good is a father who treats him like this? What kind of father would hurt his child like that? Have you seen how many wounds I gave him!?" The man's voice just kept raising and raising by the end of the sentence he was right out shouting.
"Shut it captain." Benn replied feeling quite angry. "You are a good man and Luffy knows this better than anyone. Have some faith in him."
"I…I'm scared…" Shanks admitted finally.
"It will be fine, come on now, the crew is waiting. Let's go back to the ship." Benn said as he pushed the sword toward the red-head who looked at it with contempt before he took it.
"Yeah. We need to send someone for those two." Shanks said feeling just a bit better.
"Myeah, unless they got bored of waiting for you to stop freaking out and already send someone." Benn said teasingly.
"That's… " Shanks thought of denying it but couldn't so he instead settled on a pout. "…rude"
"Yes, yes. Stop pouting."
"No respect what so ever… I'm your captain you know?"
"Yes-yes. I heard too many times to ever forget."
"Che!"
~.~
"I'm sorry." Luffy said with a deep bow making everyone on the deck but in special Shanks speechless. "Also I know I'm being a greedy bastard and probably have no place to ask this but." He still didn't raise his head and Perona was silently freaking out by his side. "Please all lend me your strength in the battle against Moria."
"Dhahahahaha!" Shanks couldn't help but laugh. "Stupid! That is not even a question."
"Ah, I feel slightly insulted." Yasopp started and soon the others joined with nods.
"Yes I know what you mean…" Roo added with a grin.
"Aren't we nakama?" Rockstart asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why would even feel the need to ask that?"
"That's right." Benn said with nod as he reached out and pat Luffy on the head.
"Raise your head Luffy, there is no reason for you to bow." Shanks commanded and the nekomimi's eyes were filled with tears as he rose.
"Thank you." The boy's voice was heart filled and it made the pirates all blush in embarrassment and some, Perona included squeal.
"Baka!" Shanks said although there was no bite behind his words. "Being thanked for it is almost as insulting!" the man quipped annoyed, before Luffy got dizzy and Perona quickly reached out to steady him.
"What did I tell you about moving around?! Get back to the bed this instant" Doc shouted annoyed.
~.~
They all threw themselves at training with renew efforts.
For Perona who only cared about superficial things those four days had been a real eye opener. She was weak, she knew that but she refused to just accept that. She would never allow herself to weak again, to be helpless as someone hurt her captain right in front of her. Never again, not when he finally found some place to belong. This was everything she had dreamed of and she'll fight to her last dying breath to protect it. The only way someone was ever allowed to hurt Luffy was through her dead body. It was like something had snapped inside her, and she found herself not caring about her broken nails anymore. To act spoiled she realized was the privilege of the strong. And she had yet to earn that privilege. She started at the basics, strengthening her body, she couldn't be weak and without her devil fruit she was. It annoyed her how easily Benn had pushed her aside. Like she was just some weak girl, she hated being looked down upon but she knew physical strength never was and never will be her strong point. Still didn't mean she just had to accept that so she trained her body but her focus was on something else entirely.
His letter was delayed, and Basil had not been happy about it. He knew something must have happened and couldn't stop cursing himself for his own weakness. He had to remain behind so he wouldn't drag down Luffy and he hated it. The blond knew the nekomimi was alive and yet worse and worse images sneaked inside his head to torment him. His captain would never break a promise made to his nakama and yet someone or something made the letters stop. Who knew in just what kind of situation the nekomimi has been in and he could do nothing to help. He was useless, he could do nothing from where he was and he hated it. When he learned about what took place, almost a week later he had been both happy and sad about it. His captain had made a dangerous enemy and yet here he was, not even able to step foot in Grand Line. On the other hand at least Shanks finally stepped up his act of captain, and while he had been grateful for not letting Luffy go against the warlord alone he had been annoyed that he resulted to psychical violence. This of course he had not known from Luffy, since the nekomimi refused to speak in deeply about it but from his cards witch showed him quite a bloody battle.
For Luffy it was a must. He wouldn't allow himself to fail, not when he had dragged so many people into this mess. There were people, precious to him supporting him and he couldn't let them down. This was the start only, he had realized, there were many enemies more dangerous than Moria out ahead and he won't let his nakama be hurt by them. He refused to, he'd rather die than let them get hurt because he couldn't be bothered to train seriously as a result of his overconfidence. Not to mention his inability to accept help that was just as dangerous as his overconfidence. He didn't have to and wouldn't do this alone, not now not ever, he knew his nakama wouldn't let him. Those people he could count on and they together will soon shake up the world, that's why he had to be stronger and stronger and even stronger than that, because even if the entire world was against them he won't allow them, his enemies to touch his treasure, not his nakamas.
Benn frowned as he looked at the two teens train. They had and he was sure Basil too was running themselves ragged. While their attitude was a welcomed change he knew that it was not a healthy one. At this pace they will be out of gass or so to speak before the battle even started. There was a choice in his hand and he sighed inwardly, they will not be happy about it, but it couldn't be helped. It was unavoidable no matter how he looked at it. The first mate knew the nekomimi had singled out Moria for himself and that it wouldn't be an easy battle.
~.~
Luffy swore it was not his fault, not this time. The nekomimi sighed inwardly as his eyes locked with his kidnapers golden eyes that followed his every move as they both tried to size each other up.
The man looked at Luffy who returned the look with a blank gaze of his own behind his long black hoodie which he was quite grateful he had been wearing. A simple long red and black stripped t-shirt under his hoodie held in place by two heavy black belts that crossed each other in x in front and back and matching black pants tucked inside same colored boots.
The man frowned at something and Luffy refused to flinch as the man reached at the table between them, he grabbed the vine and refilled his cup. His open black coat that had red flower patterned designs on both its sleeves and collar moved elegantly as it to compliment the man's movements as the man stood up. He was wearing white pants held up by a decorated belt and were tucked inside his boots. The golden cross shaped necklace clicked silently as it pressed against the man's collarbone and bare chest; but more importantly the large sword on his back that made it quite easy for anyone to recognize his person. The black sword Yoru, in the shape of a crucifix, with a golden crossguard decorated by blue and green cabochons, its hilt wrapped in bandages and a particularly big cabochon at its extremity and the owner Dracule "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk currently the greatest swordsman in the world and one of the Warlords.
How and why Luffy knew this? Simple Shanks and Mihawk were rivals of sorts, that's why the crew felt the need to inform Luffy when they heard whispers about the Warlord approaching the island they currently were, kind of a heads-up. The nekomimi truly blamed his luck sometimes because here he was, not even a day later looking at the man in real life. Still he had no idea why the man sought the need to practically kidnap him. He probably knew he was Shanks apprentice, so was this some kind of scheme to get to the yonko. Or was Shanks playing a prank or him, what was happening?
"We shall depart as soon as you finish your meal." Mihawk spoke up and made Luffy blink stupidly for a second.
"Depart?"
"Yes. That's what I just said isn't it?"
Luffy resisted the urge to sigh "Excuse me, does Shanks know about this?"
"Most probably not."
"Then I can't go. Benn will have my head if I pull another disappearing act." He did not want to get scolded yet again, scrubbing the deck was not as fun as it seemed.
"I doubt the first-mate will be angry seeing as it was him who requested this."
"…Eh? Am I missing something here?"
"Are you always this slow on the uptake or is this a special occasion?" Before Luffy could get worked up the man continued to speech. "Benn asked me to take you to a certain blacksmith."
"I see…" So it was Benn's idea but why didn't he told Shanks about it? Ah it was no use thinking about it, he will surely find out sooner or later. "But I do not have my sword-"
"There-" The man pointed at the luggage in the chair that Luffy just now saw. Benn really thought about everything, didn't he? Still the man's attitude toward him was aggravating. He wasn't a genius but he could read the disappointment when the man looked at him. Like he let down some unknown expectations. He had never bothered with them too much, but somehow disappointment coming from this man was annoying him. Of course the nekomimi didn't let it shown. He smiled slightly as he stood up.
"Alright." Luffy said as he inwardly pondered how to make the man change his ideas. "Let's go then, we're wasting precious time after all." He threw the luggage on his back and stood at ready. The man didn't comment and simply walked by him and put the empty glass on the table, he didn't stop as he headed to the door, knowing too well the little boy would follow.
~.~
He didn't know what to think of Luffy in the beginning, no true to be told he was slightly disappointed. Shanks said when he came back from East Blue that he meet someone who reminded him of captain Gol D Roger but it didn't matter how much he looked the man only saw a simple young boy. There was nothing special about the teen. He tried to mask his disappointment but knew he didn't quite manage to.
The boy Luffy was silent. He had yet to try and speak with him which was a surprise in itself. Not something he'd expect from Shank's apprentice that's for sure. After all everyone who knew the man could tell you that silence and Shanks did not mix well. They had been travelling for days now and the boy kept himself busy with his book. He was sure the red-haired yonko was probably quite annoyed by now and that somehow made it all worth the effort, the fact that the boy wasn't terribly annoying was definitely a plus.
"We are here." The hawkeyed man said and Luffy practically threw the book in his bag in the hurry to lay eyes on said island. There was an indescribable thrill that he couldn't put in words whenever they landed on a new island. Mihawk could practically see the excitement rolling off in waves from Luffy. One weird thing, the nekomimi remarked there was no sand filled beaches no matter how far he looked, only rocks. They docked and Luffy took a moment to absorb everything.
"The city is not that far. If we can rent some horses from the villagers we'll be there I recon by nightfall." The swordsman voice quickly snapped him out of his awe.
"Alright." Luffy followed Mihawk close by, the man obviously knew more about the island they were currently visiting then himself. The scenery slowly started to change, still rocky but some greenery started to sweep in and in the far distance he could see the beginnings of a forest. They walked for about an hour or so until they finally arrived to the village. It was small and kind of reminded him of Foosha, there were few people passing them by though he remarked.
"Wait." The swordsmen finally said as they arrived at some stables of sorts. Luffy nodded and slightly wondered just what did Benn tell Mihawk about him to make the man look at him so suspiciously as he walked away.
"An uproar?" Luffy asked himself as the noise grew just like his curiosity. He should wait here… he totally should, they were in a hurry too… Ah damn it. He will just take a look and be back before Mihawk came back.
"The taxes will be raise again." The people were disgruntled. "What? Aren't you happy you are able to provide for your country." The man, probably some kind of soldier judging by the armor he wore shouted loudly, as a few more behind him snickered greedily.
"That's insane!" / "We barely have any money!"/ "You can't take even more!" / "What about us?"
"Shut up! Who do you think protects you, you should be grateful! That's why I hate stupid hicks." The man grumbled the last part to himself. Luffy shouldn't get himself mixed in this and he was just about to walk away when the soldiers started asking the people for money and some resorted even to violence to get it. Not his problem… but god dammit.
"What are you doing?!" The soldier shouted as Luffy squeezed the man's hand hard enough for him fell to his knees.
"That's my question." The nekomimi replied as he looked over his shoulder at the covering elder on the ground. "Just what do you think you all are doing here?" It was only when the other soldier, the one who had been speaking till now started to approach him he let go of the hand he had in grasp.
"Hmm, you don't look like the rest of them, or you possibly a newcomer?" the soldier in the front asked as the others gathered around him. Probably their leader.
"A traveler" of sorts. Telling them he's a pirate couldn't possibly end well.
His response made the soldiers laugh. "A traveler huh, then you should pay the protection fee and keep on travelling stranger."
"Ah… but I don't waste money on useless things." He said with a monotone voice.
"Useless? Boy, you really need to learn how to shut up. Do you even know who you're talking to?"
"Nope."
The man got a few shades redder in anger "Beat him up-" He ordered and the others attacked.
"Like trained dogs." The boy mussed silently as he dodged a punch and started his counter attack. A quick succession of kicks and punches followed and almost all the soldiers were left on the ground grunting in pain. It seemed impossible someone so small to defeat them so effortlessly. Another soldier attacked him from behind, idiot should have at least stop screaming if he was aiming for a sneak attack. He grabbed the man by his shirt and throw him into the ground, hard. He caught a spear aimed at his head and broke it in two, like one would a small twig. The leader who had threw it flinched as Luffy's eyes found his, the soldier looked just about ready to piss his pants. "Get lost loser." There was no need to say anything else, the soldier shouted retreat. The soldiers who could move grabbed the unconscious ones before they all high tailed out of there.
"..." he hadn't been expecting thanks but the silence that pressed on was quite disconcerting he turned to face the elder man who was helped up sometime in the middle of the altercation. Slowly whispers of "What should we do now?" were turned to the older man. If the whispers were anything to go by the villagers were scared of something attacking them.
"I shall at least thank you young lad for stopping them." The old white-haired man said as he stroked his beard. "Then prepare for the inevitable, we need to fortify the walls and-"
"Excuse me." Luffy interrupted. "I can't help but think my involvement might have caused you trouble." The old man smiled grandfatherly hearing his words before he turned a stern gaze at the villagers that fumed and agreed with the boy's words. There were different opinions, the nekomimi boy realized. Some were happy that he stepped in and welcome his help others thought he was meddling was unnecessary, there were a few who the boy remarked were quite angry that he had caused them trouble.
"You didn't kid, I would have done the same." A middle aged beardy man answered as he adjusted a shovel over his shoulder, he had a tall muscular build for having worked on the field for so many years.
"What is done is done, now we need to prepare before those beasts-"
"You…" Mihawk's voice cut through the crowd like a sword. Everyone sans Luffy stepped out of his way. The man was pissed and the teen gulped loudly.
"…sorry." He offered as a peace offering. The swordsman sighed in himself. He should have expected it, it was after all Shanks' brat, no way the boy wouldn't give him a headache. If the broken spear at the boy's feet and the scruff marks on the ground were anything to go by he already found trouble.
"What happened here?" He asked slowly but harsh enough for the people to take a step back.
"Uwaa, it sounds like you are in trouble kid." The man by his side whispered, totally unhelpful. "Now-now" the man shouted cheerfully as he put his hands up in a placating manner. "Don't be too harsh on the lad, he helped us out you know."
"Is that so." Mihawk still wasn't happy. The old man, the village chief invited them both inside and explained everything that took place. The soldiers that patrolled this part of the country were getting more and more greedier, taking away the citizens money and provisions. If they continued like this the elder wasn't sure how long they could pay them. On the other hand the forest was full of dangerous animals that hunted humans and without the soldiers help the villagers weren't able to protect themselves, they were struck between a rock and a hard place.
"This is… most displeasing." Mihawk said with a sigh.
"I agree." Luffy sad before he looked at the elder man who seemed amused by their antics. "Still… this village is quite old, I can't imagine this situation is anything new." The boy was sharp Mihawk will give him that. "So what changed?"
"The truth is... a beast of sorts is lurking in the forest. Is quite deadly and fast, the other animals are restless because of it and attack almost anything in sight. Another village was attacked last night, we hopped the soldiers would protect us against them but…" thanks to Luffy's involvement it wasn't a viable option. "seeing how easily you took them down, I doubt they would have been of any help." The man added and it did nothing to help the nekomimi's conscious.
"So, if that beast is taken out you recon things will go back to the normal?" Luffy pressed on.
"I hope so."
"Alright." The hooded boy said with a familiar smile as he turned to Mihawk.
"We're in a hurry." The man commented like it explained everything and it did kind of. Luffy himself disliked using too many words on irrelevant things he had mastered this kind of speech a long time ago after all. The fact that the man hadn't said no was a good sign. It give him an opening to persuade the man.
"Oh common, it's gonna be fun!" He eyesmiled hopping to convince the man to join his adventure but it fell short.
"Define fun." Mihawk on his part refused to budge, it was not his problem and he didn't want to waste any unnecessary time.
"Stingy." Luffy said with a displeased frown making the swordsmen narrow his eyes, not what the nekomimi had been going for. Back on the ship the crew would be trying their best to console him now, but Mihawk wasn't one of them.
"I believe you are mistaken, you are 100 years too early to talk to me in such way." Mihawk's insult did have its desired effect, it was funny how quickly the tables turned. Luffy did try its best to reign in his temper, yes he knew he was out of his league here but it didn't matter.
"I known." He finally said with a hard in the distance. "If you are that man's rival… you must be strong," The boy was talking about Shanks, Mihawk realized "but it doesn't mean I'll have to listen to you." Those yellow eyes hardened and the nekomimi smirked at him. "After all my stubbornness is in a league of his own."
"Is that a threat?" He wasn't the boy's captain so he didn't imagine for a second that the boy would just follow his orders blindly but the fact that the little bastard had the nerve to throw it in his face so rudely… let's just say he had killed for less.
"Hmm… I'm just saying it's easier if you just give in now and help me." The boy said watching him from the corner of his eyes
"Such audacity. To think you'd challenge me so bluntly." He kind of started to see why the kid was Shanks apprentice, after all Luffy himself admitted that he wasn't strong enough to challenge him and yet here he was, not budging an inch.
It was time to use that, Luffy decided- Benn's rules of negotiations. First rule be friendly and appear ready to compromise, after all negotiation was the resolution of a conflict through by mutual compromise. The problem was that Mihawk didn't see it as a conflict, the warlord knew he was strong enough to just make Luffy do what he said. First problem he should address.
"I have a devil fruit." The pirate's voice brought the Warlord out of his mussing.
"Hmm, and that's supposed to be relevant?" Who was the boy trying to kid, this was Grand Line Devil Fruits weren't unheard of. Did he perhaps think Mihawk would be intimidated by that? That's why he hated stupid overconfident brats.
"Shishishi, Benn did not tell you about it, did he." The boy asked with a gigantic grin knowing that he was right. For safety issue the man might have mentioned that he had a Devil fruit but he wouldn't go as far as to tell Mihawk which one. That would be too much like divulging another's personal information. "And knowing Benn; he asked you to take care of me." It wasn't a question the first-mate was too much of a mother-hen not to do so. "I have Moria gunning for my head after all. And you are a man of his word, are you not?" Somehow the swordsmen didn't like what the brat was implying.
"Just what are you trying to say?" Mihawk asked truly annoyed, the boy didn't just resemble Shanks he realized. No this kind of cunning… Benn Backman, he was truly starting to hate the man.
"Who knows." Luffy wouldn't admit it but he enjoyed annoying the man, Mihawk was starting to see the problem and his lack of information was an ace in Luffy's hand. "I'm just saying that we are not on the clock."
The boy was trying to make him change his mind. "I don't make myself clear, I don't want to spend more time in your company then strictly necessary." Ouch, the man was harsh.
"Since you value your time so much, I'd hate to make you waste it needlessly."
"Provided you could do that." Mihawk countered.
"I can be… a pain in the ass if I want to." There a branch of olive, the man was smart enough to realize it was a peace offering. Mihawk sighed. They were wasting time, and the boy was troublesome even when he wasn't trying to be. Did he really want to find out how much trouble Shanks apprentice could be when he wanted to…
"Fine." Just because when dealing with stubborn idiots it was easier to just go along the flow, more time efficient too. Luffy cheered on the inside hearing that. Now the next step was simple, never negotiate with yourself. To help the village he needed to dispose of the beast that was his objective. Now then to make sure the man won't use the fact that they hadn't clearly stated their objectives to his advantage he would clarify them.
"The beast has to be killed then."
"Yes." The swordsman reply was fast. "I will dispose of the beast and we can be on our way. It will be the quickest way." He managed to make Mihawk give the first offer. Good. Things finally started to become interesting.
"Hmm… are you a proficient hunter, or tracker perhaps?" Luffy asked playing along. Like hell he was letting Mihawk kill his pray, plus rule number 3 never accept the first offer. There was always a better one behind it.
"Adequate." The man answered back and it made Luffy shake his head.
"I am the best tracker on the ship." There was a rule against lying and while he was allowed to speak half-truths, not this time. "You can ask anyone." It was not boosting either, they held a few competitions on the ship and he won them all. Through Luffy admitted that he had quite an edge over anyone else.
"That's irrelevant if you can't deal with the threat fast enough." Was Mihawk trying to make him angry by implying he's weak? Hope he'd make a mistake. The man knew he wouldn't back out until they did dispose of the beast, Mihawk going to the swordsman made the most sense. He was the strongest out of the two, but Luffy had yet to say he wanted the man to do so. Did Mihawk think perhaps that Luffy was trying to make him clean up the mess he made. If so he had the wrong idea about him. The nekomimi after all admitted he had trouble accepting help, more so he disliked others getting in his way. But Mihawk didn't know that, so he tried to use his help as a bargain chip, the man wasn't going to give it for free after all. He wasn't a beginner who would lose such a good opportunity to strengthen his position.
"And you propose?" It didn't hurt to let him think so for a while longer at least. Let him think he had the higher ground.
"Simple, till we end this trip you will listen to me." Oh obedience, it started to make sense, the man was vexed Luffy had rebuked his orders.
"Nope. There is only one person I call captain." Luffy's eyes were glowing with pride. Shank was the only person who had earned his respect as a captain. "I don't take orders from others."
Mihawk had to admire the boy's guts. To simply take his offer and throw it back into his face in such a disrespectful way. How long has it been since someone refused his help? He simply didn't get the boy. What was his objective in the end? When he agreed that the beast had to be killed he expected the boy to try and offer him something to compensate his effort but the boy didn't. Much more he had the nerve to tell him his skillsets weren't suitable for such tasks. What was the boy playing at? It was he had to admit slightly amusing. Had the boy accepted this offer he would have lost all the growing respect he gained from him in the last half an hour. Mihawk disliked mindless drones that did what was expected of them. The fact that he hadn't accepted the first offer he got showed he wasn't a simple rookie who was scared to actually bargain. Although in this situation he wasn't sure if it was admirable trait or not. It wasn't a shame to yield in face of a stronger opponent. After all wasn't it better to accept defeat with dignity than continue and to struggle meaninglessly.
"Then I suppose you'll have to care of the problem alone."
Luffy tried to contain his smirk. It would do him no good to give away that this had been his objective. "Alright." He said in a monotone voice before he turned to the elder and give him an eyesmile. "Where do I find this beasts then?"
Mihawk did not like this. While on the surface it might have looked like he won, he couldn't help but feel he had been duped. The boy had accepted it all too easily. Someone who bargained so fearlessly would never do so unless… it was what he had been after for. Mihawk's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the young boy in an entirely different way. The teen wanted to do this alone all along, didn't he? Mihawk used the time Luffy spend with the village chief to go over the previous conversation once more. He made a fatal mistake, the swordsman realized right from the start. He had assumed that the boy would try and convince him to take care of the beast. He foolishly assumed Luffy was like most people who given his title would try and manipulate him into doing their bindings. But it was never so. The boy didn't agree with him nor did he object it, he just played along and let him draw his own, wrong he might add, conclusions. Not to mention it was him who told the boy to do it alone then. Indeed he believed it would be an effective threat, but it was just what the boy had been waiting for.
"… well played." Benn Backman pupil indeed.
Luffy and the elder barely paused their conversation to look at the man who was smiling amused at the young pirate. So he figured it out, Luffy mused. Not like he hadn't expected it but it was still surprisingly fast. But then again this was Dracule Mihawk. The lack of information on the man's part had been a gigantic advantage, someone like Benn or Shanks who knew his character would have saw through his ruse ages ago. Still didn't change the fact that he wasn't going to use the same trick again, it just wouldn't stick.
~.~
The boy was silent and moved quite fast. He was obviously used to the forest terrain, Mihawk observed. True to be told he had done a lot of that, observing. He had been quite displeased with himself ever since they left the village. He had believed himself above judging others by the first impression they made. But he had, he simply wrote off the boy as nothing impressive the first time they meet. The swordsman admitted he had been wrong, it didn't happen many times but he was secretly pleased it happened so. Luffy was only different that he had imagined and didn't even seem to care that he didn't fit in the criteria he had been placed into. That's why he was following the teen through the forest, he was trying to find out the real character of Shanks apprentice.
It was getting darker, the man contemplated but they were getting closer. And while he wasn't a trained hunter he knew they were on the right track but the fact that the boy could trace the beast so easily was amazing.
"Hmm…" the boy was seemingly dissatisfied with whatever he found. He had been sniffing the air and it made Mihawk curios. The boy looked like a dog or a cat doing that.
"Did you found something?" He inquired.
"Yeah…" The boy said silently as he walked toward some bushed and gently pried them open. It was full of half buried mangled corpses, adults and even children. It was a horrifying sight and even Mihawk had to admit, it was enough to make one lose their appetite quite fast. The small boy didn't say much, but he must be quite affected by the sight.
"What would do something like this?"
"It's a canine." Luffy said as he turned toward the other man and show him some fur. "A big one… gray fur and sharp teeth." If the marks that thing left behind was anything to go by. "Burying meals… Is not something uncommon for animals to do usually to hide the smell so it doesn't attract other predators." The boy explained and he hummed in agreement. "We should be quiet, he's quite close."
"And you know this-" He just couldn't help his curiosity.
"I can smell him." The man took it at face value which Luffy had been grateful for. The boy jumped up in a tree that provided him with enough cover and Mihawk followed after.
"Something is troubling you." He spoke silently, in merely a whisper but the boy heard him well. An above normal sense of smell and hearing then.
"Ah, you saw that…" Luffy said slightly embarrassed, the swordsman noted.
"If you want-" Mihawk couldn't finish his offer.
"Is fine, I'm doing this." Luffy clarified, he didn't want the man to think he was scared of fighting the stupid mutt. "We had an understanding, you let me handle this. I'm not scared."
"But…"
The boy sighed as he dropped his hoodie, letting the warlord see his face the first time since they started traveling. The boy was handsome, Mihawk would have said cute if only didn't find that word so ineffective in describing the teen. He had a long black hair that was held in a high ponytail. "I just have a bad feeling about this, like something is very very wrong…"
Mihawk would have guessed it was because of the corpses they saw, but somehow it didn't seem like it. No the boy had been on guard for quite some time now so it probably had to do with something else then. But what?
"Is just… too intelligent."Luffy said hoping it would be enough of an explanation. He erased almost all of his presence; it was an incredible feat if Mihawk wouldn't have seen the boy he would have thought he wasn't there. But regarding his words there were just so many ways to understand that sentence. The boy said it was a wolf and that it was too intelligent, so possibly an experiment? He heard dr. Vegapunk has created some cyborg like those. Seeing how bloodthirsty the creature was, it probably a failed experiment.
"It's here." Luffy said and just like he said a large wolf like creature walked by dragging another human body in his maw. Mihawk analyzed the creature for a few second while Luffy get in position to launch an attack. The creature was massive with strong jaws.
The boy aimed two throwing knifes carefully at the beast's head and then let them lose. They were fast and precise, something Mihawk had to admit would have a bit of trouble dodging if he was attacked in a similar manner. The boy had an incredible aptitude toward assassination. It reminded him of the shinobis in Wano.
But it wasn't enough to kill the beast. A black shadow like substance snapped the knifes out of reach, and Luffy dropped from the tree and ran to the beast not hesitating even for a second the moment his hands were free. So he had expected the beast to dodge it.
Thanks to his eyesight Mihawk could see the boy's additional features quite well even so deep in the dark forest. A black lustrous tail and two cat-ears, not to mention the boy's eyes were almost of a glowing golden color with black pigmentation around his eyes making the feline orbs stand out even more. The beast sneered as it laid eyes on him and Luffy grinned, just like a cat.
The two run at each other a blue almost see through substance stopping the black plasma one as the boy dodged the beast claws. No doubt it was part of the boy's devil fruit powers, he was a zoan. Luffy tried to kick the beast since he was already doing a handstand but the beast simply attacked with the other paw. So Luffy had no other choice but to redirect the kick and stop the claw for reaching him. The nekomimi was careful to hit not the claws but higher up.
Impressive flexibility, to redirect an attack at such a moment in such a manner took quite a bit of effort and self-control. Mihawk could feel the impact even from the tree, the boy was no doubt a power horse. The beast snarled and was going in for a bite but the boy dropped his other foot on its head, it was enough to push the beast into the ground. Luffy pushed himself up while pressing down on the head, using it as a kind of platform before he tried to drop a knee on the beast's head. Uselessly the plasma substance reacted strongly sensing the danger and Luffy was forced to retreat.
The man or beast, Mihawk wasn't entirely sure what it was stood up on two legs, and started to gain the silhouette of a human. The swordsman couldn't help but frown at the implication. If it was a human those mangled bodies meant cannibalization, he couldn't help but be disgusted.
"You finally showed yourself." Luffy's voice was calm as he laid eyes upon the man. "Poor bastard. Has it already devoured you completely?" The boy asked silently and Mihawk raised a curios eyebrow. Apparently the boy knew more of what was happening than he himself. He looked at the man the boy was facing and saw the vacant look on its face, had the man gone mad perhaps? Mihawk had met crazy people before, people who weren't all there and their eyes looked the same, lifeless.
The wolfman extended his hand in a gesture that wasn't all that unfamiliar to Luffy and dark plasma followed his command.
"Soru." Luffy said silently as he dodged the substances that followed him. Mihawk easily recognized the move the boy utilized; he had the pleasure of meeting a few CP agents after all. It had been a wise move from Luffy's part even though the swordsman was aware of the strain it put on the users body. The boy's speed was astounding but he won't be able to keep it up for long, not with the way he was using his devil fruit abilities. He was creating platform after platform and shield after shields to dodge the incoming attacks that seemed to come from different directions.
The wolf's since it was easier to think of the man as a wolf attacked instinctually while Luffy thought rationally. Against a normal human it would have been probably an easy win but the small time Luffy spent on reading the attack, defending or dodging was enough for the wolf to follow up with another attack. Not to mention the black substance had a quick corrosive and or poisoning effect if the way the plants in its vicinity reacted to was anything to go by. Getting hit by it would have been fatal. It did not take long for the boy to be overwhelmed. Mihawk was ready to step in when Luffy's eyes caught his. He understood the message "stay out of this." Right before Luffy was engulfed by what looked like a black wave of the plasma. There was a defeating silence for a fracture of a second before something broke through the black substance, and then the doom exploded in brilliant blue flames. The beasts snarled and forced even more power in his attack meanwhile Luffy who was standing in the middle of the chaotic flames simply raised his hand and the fire rushed to protect him.
Mihawk admitted to himself that he had always disliked Devil Fruits, to him it feel like a cheap way to obtain a power that wasn't even theirs. They had been borrowing powers from the devil and many paid the price for that, he had been never sympathetic toward those sob stories. But looking at those flames… he had to admit they were breathtakingly beautiful. They danced around the boy wildly yet didn't burn anything Luffy didn't want it to, Mihawk didn't doubt for a second their deadliness, but the boy's control over them was fascinating. They almost seemed alive? No, Mihawk corrected himself. They looked alive, like it was an entity made of fire; there was no almost in it.
The difference between those two became apparent as the fight progressed. The wolf was getting pushed back slightly, seeing that the beast simply jumped away and tried to attack the teen from another direction. He give up on a power confrontation knowing all too well he was overwhelmed. He turned back to the form of a gray wolf and continued his attacks. His physical abilities were obviously all enhanced in his beast form and Luffy was quickly losing his stamina.
He tried blitz like attacks from more directions and they were wearing the nekomimi down. Slowly but surely the teens defenses were chipped away. It didn't take long before the first blow reached him. It took it directly to the chest and it sent him flying but the boy managed to right himself midair. The battle turned bloodier as Luffy to brought out his claws to play. He shouldn't use soru anymore, but he didn't have much choice. They were both trading blows and it seemed like the battle was drawing to an end. Another hit sent both the nekomimi and the wolf through the air, the two righted themselves before they hit the ground. It was going to be the last attack they both knew.
Around the wolf black plasma gathered in dangerous quantities. Mihawk observed both of them carefully and while the beast summoned lots of black goo Luffy instead simply seemed to breath in slowly and call back all of his flames, they seemed to disappear under his skin leaving only a small amount that seemed to move playfully on his body, almost like an armor. The beast seemed even more annoyed by this if possible and lunched the attack first. Luffy uttered a simple command of "Step." as jumped in the air and landed on a hovering platform that he used as a launching pad. The wolf's entire plasma missing the teen almost by a hairline, seeing Luffy in mid-air the beast hurled himself at the boy in rage. The flames seemed to gather around Luffy's hands as the nekomimi launched himseld. His appearance again having been changed this time taking a monstrous turn, his tail split in two. The black spots around his eyes extended and there were small patched of aquamarine fur in strips all over his body sans the lower half of his face, the until then black colored fur now gain a stripped pattern. His mouth turned into a grin that grew bigger and bigger displaying the impossibly sharp row of teeth's. Hell he even 'grow' slightly reaching a high expected of a 15 year old teenager; his foot almost completely turning into feline ones. His eyes were almost neon green.
"Beast King's Brilliant Fire Fist!" It was one punch; he didn't need more to break through the plasma substance that appeared, but he didn't stop at one. His hands were ablaze and small flickers of light similar to electricity danced around them. Luffy continued to punch the wolfman creating a fiery explosion after each subsequent contact.
Luffy outclassed his enemy at every turn, by it power, speed, agility or flexibility, the outcome had been inevitable. At least that was what Mihawk believed as he watched the wolf crash into the ground. On contrast to the loud sound the beasts body made as it hit the ground and the large crater it created, Luffy landed as smoothly as a feather not far from the wolf body, his second tail and the changes it brought burning away into nothingness. He stood up eyes filled with determination and walked over the still twitching beast that grunted and tried to crawl away. The thing give off a pitiful sound between a chocked howling and a cry. It was pitiful and unhuman; there was nothing left but fear in the beast's eyes.
Luffy extended his hand and closed his fingers around the handle of a knife constructed by flames that slowly turned into a glass like substance. The boy crouched down over the man's body, so close Mihawk would have thought the boy caressing a loved one's face if he only wouldn't know better. The beast stopped crying, the swordsman remarked if only for that second, as the boy plunged the knife inside its heart.
"May you find peace in death." The boy said solemnly as the light left the wolfs, no the man's eyes. He died as a man, Mihawk realized. The swordsman didn't know how but Luffy allowed the poor man to at least die as a man and not as a beast that lost its mind. As the boy stepped back the knife caught flames and soon the only thing left from the cadaver was some ashes for the wind to scatter.
"Awfully sympathetic towards an enemy." Mihawk commented as he approached the teen, he had to constantly change place since the two wreaked a good part of the forest in their fight. And since he couldn't allow the boy to die he had to be close enough to step in any instance.
"You're wrong I'm not…I… I just… couldn't help but think that it may be me one day."
"What do you mean by that?" The nekomimi only give the swordsman a bitter smile.
The swordsmen wanted to question Luffy further but it was the exact moment the boy's fuel run out. He caught the falling boy and sighed to himself. It seemed like they had to spend the night now in the village, great more delays. He picked the boy up relatively easily Luffy was after all quite small. A small pang made itself known as he looked down at the petite and bloodied boy that he carried in his arms while he made his way to the village. He looked so fragile like this, like a child, even though he wasn't one; had he ever been? He was surely young but he wouldn't discredit a man when he saw one; that would be dishonorable. The boy had more guts than half of the man he had meet in his life, combined. Worthless scums, lots of them. But not this boy… he was destined for greatness, Mihawk could see that now.
~.~
It only took a good night for sleep and a big like enormous amount of food for Luffy to be himself again. Mihawk truly wanted to question the boy's less then helpful answers from the night before but decided against it. After all they weren't friends, the boy wasn't his apprentice and… it wasn't his place to do so. They were barely acquaintance.
"Taka care lad!" The one who managed to convince Luffy to call him Oss-san shouted loudly as they both mounted their respective horses. The village nodded as one as they all took turns to bid them goodbye.
"You too Oss-san! Bye-bye everyone!" Luffy shouted back happily as they waved goodbye.
"And try not to cause so much trouble to your dad!" Oss-san added with a nod from everyone.
"D-dad?!" Mihawk sputtered undignified and Luffy, well he fell off the horse in his fit of laugh.
~.~
A.N.: Thank you for reviewing ^.^
Perona's love is similar to Hancock's but a bit different and No Luffy won't be involved romantically with her, neither of them.
As for this chapter, well regarding the beginning, Luffy acts alone and Shanks knows Moria is dangerous and Luffy can't take down the man's entire crew, no matter how strong he is, he'd be overwhelmed by their number if nothing else. Lufy on his part doesn't want to involve Shanks because he claims is his battle and that angered the yonko so he took him to the side and made him see reason, be force because obviously it wouldn't stick anyway else. That's the reason he fought Luffy without holding back, letting his killer intent lose and everything unlike when they are only training. He had faith the boy will survive, and yes he held back but only slightly and only the attacks that would be fatal. Luffy doesn't quit easily so that's why four days. The battle lasted four days. Perona sees all this and tries to step in since day one but can't because Benn stops her advance. Hope it makes sense.
Mihawk is really hard to write, mainly because there is barely any information about the man, but he will play a very important role in the future. Regarding Luffy's words about the wolf, next chapter guys. I'm not giving spoilers :P
See you next time ^.^