Chapter Eleven

Hawk-Eyes Mihawk took a step back and let his face go blank again. For a brief moment, he looked shocked and unnerved. It was unlike the man to behave in such a manner.

After regaining his composure, Mihawk stepped forward again, his presence very intimidating. Vivi was waiting on baited breath to find out what the man thought of their current companions. She was worried that he would try to outright attack. The princess knew he had the capability.

Rubbing his temples, Mihawk began to speak in an exasperated voice. "Of all the things that I could walk into... really, your majesty. Allow me to escort your guests out, and I will not have to report this event."

The king stood and faced the swordsman. "I will not let my, as you say, guests be escorted out of my palace before I am finished. Please, by all means, report me. I will consider it a favor, but do not interrupt my meetings," he replied, a hint of sarcasm laid beneath his words. Crossing his arms, he awaited the swordsman's response.

Mihawk shook his head sadly, drawing his sword. "If they do not surrender to me now, I will have to take them along by force. I apologise in advance for any damage to your palace and staff."

Yuki, who had been sitting quietly up to that point, leapt up and drew her sword, red eyes flashing. She motioned for the others to move, but Sabo and Robin took up positions beside her.

Turning to face the world's greatest swordsman, Yuki braced herself. "You won't take us here! We've worked too damn hard to be captured during a chance encounter with a stupid shichibukai!" she spat, angry.

Mihawk studied the woman. "I see you have... returned... to us."

Raising her sword, she charged him head on, the clash nearly destroying the room they were in. The king threw his arms up to cover his head as guards rushed in to escort him and the princess away from the danger. Sabo and Robin tried to make their way through the confusion to help their companion.

With a harsh shove, Mihawk pushed Yuki off balance and she fell backwards, her back slamming into the edge of the table. Looking up, she barely managed to parry the thrust that he aimed at her side. It was all she could do to block his attacks, her harshly weakened state affecting her fighting greatly.

Before she could push back, Sabo swung his iron pipe down at Mihawk. Sabo's attack caught the swordsman off guard, and he quickly tried to block the attack. Being knocked off balance by Sabo's swing, Yuki used the opportunity and surged up with all her remaining strength to push him off.

Leaping over the table to the other side, Yuki noticed Sabo was still fighting the swordsman. She knew there was little she could do at that point, but it still worried her that her brother was facing the man known as the world's greatest swordsman.

"Sabo!" she called, getting no response. "Try to get away, we need to leave!"

Looking around, she caught sight of Robin using her ability to move the fallen rubble and create a path through the destruction. Catching her eye, Yuki pointed to Sabo and Mihawk.

Robin nodded, "I'm almost done. You go outside, there's enough room. I can help him, so make sure our exit is clear of marines!"

"That I can do!" she replied loudly. Though she was worn out, Yuki knew she could still take care of any small fry that dared to hinder their escape. It wouldn't take much to defeat anyone below captain's rank.

With one final glance to ensure that the others wouldn't need her assistance, the weakened girl leapt up the rubble path and out into the blazing desert sun. The palace, though, seemed like an oasis compared to the sandy hills and town surrounding it, even with the battle taking place inside.

Scanning the landscape, Yuki searched for marines that likely would attack as soon as they saw her. She didn't see any besides one young kid standing in front of the palace gates. Curiosity compelled her and she silently approached the youth.

He was tall, but young, maybe a few centimeters shorter than herself, and had a smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks. The sandy hair had a hint of red, so it could be called strawberry blonde. His skin was nearly as pale as hers, and they had similar features, or so Yuki thought.

Turning around, she caught full view of his face. Those green eyes were more a familiar sight than her own red eyes. She knew, in that moment, that the young marine must have had some relation to her, a cousin or distant relative's child.

Yuki yearned to know more. She had never met her blood relatives. None of the ones she knew about, parent and grandparents, had visited after she was three. They had all left her alone in Windmill village with Luffy and Garp.

Without further thought as to the danger of revealing herself or the consequences her actions could bring, she strode out of her hiding spot, making a beeline for the boy she thought her relative.

"You there. Who are you?" she asked him, looking him over once more.

When he saw her, he paled, enough to match her own skin color. "Yuki...?"

With that, she took a few steps back. Mumbling to herself, she complained, "Why is everybody recognizing me today?" It seemed like she had been caught up in a string of bad luck, and it just kept getting worse.

"Is that... you? I can't believe it, wait until Garp hears this!" the boy muttered very excitedly. "He'll be thrilled..."

Yuki grabbed ahold of his wrist, making him yelp in pain as much as surprise. It wasn't obvious to him before, but now the boy could tell she was angry and nervous, a creature prickling and ready to fight.

She glared down at him, pulling him close. "Who are you?" she hissed.

Watching the realization wash across his face, she loosened her hold a bit. The boy studied her features for a few moments, as she had done to him, before revealing his identity to her.

"I'm Kenneth Stokes," he replied steadily, "and I'm your little brother."