Aaahhh Yay! So much reviewer love! Thanks so much! :D I really love hearing about all of your opinions and such~! Please R&R, You know I love it when you do~.

Oh! And I'm setting up a poll on my profile to see what you all think about Eve as a character so far. Because honestly? I can't form an opinion on the spontaneity that is Eve/Evan. XD Hahaha.

Also, I'm going to put a pairing poll up that I may or may not consider the results. I'm not putting Luffy on the poll because I can't picture Eve with him. XD Hahaa. Well, enjoy chapter ten, Minna!

(Evan's P.O.V.)

I sighed, digging the heels of my hands into my eyes in frustration.

"Well that could have gone worse." I commented wryly, causing Usopp to jolt awake and start throttling me.

"WORSE?! HOW COULD IT HAVE BEEN WORSE?! DON KRIEG WANTS TO TAKE YOU!"

I kept my expression blank as I pulled Usopp's hands off of the front of my shirt, staring into his eyes in all seriousness. My voice was void of emotion as I smoothly pushed him back into his seat, my hands on his shoulders.

"Krieg could have knocked Luffy into the water and Gin could have pinned Zoro long enough for Krieg to threaten to shoot you when you would try to go save Luffy. Then I would have had to go with him willingly or you and Luffy would be dead."

Usopp shut up, slowly falling into the fetal position, rocking back and forth while murmuring something about "scary psychic witches".

Luffy came over and sat on our table, leaning forward to ruffle my hair, knocking my bandana askew on accident. He was frowning, a grumpy, almost angry, frown. "Don't worry Evan, I won't let Krieg take you." Finally he grinned his determined grin, figuring out his simple plan as he pounded his fist into his palm. "Yosh! I'll kick that Krieg's ass! No one threatens my nakama!"

I grinned back at him, giving him a high-five. "Hai Captain! I know you'll do it!" We snickered, earning a smirk from Zoro as the crew shared the little joke.

However, the small warmth our group had created faded quickly when Gin expressed his remorse for Krieg's actions. He apologized to Sanji, saying he didn't want any of this to happen. He then proceeded to repeat basically everything I had revealed earlier...much more dramatically. I immediately zoned out, already bored with the conversation. (No offense to Gin's dead comrades, but we're supposed to be enemies anyways and it'd be weird if I pretended to care in my opinion.)

I inwardly sighed, Looks like my influence on the plot isn't as great as I had hoped.

That's because you aren't careful enough, Boss~

I sat a little straighter, a frown slowly creeping onto my face, not going unnoticed by Luffy.

What? What do you mean? What wasn't I careful with?

Puuya sweatdropped, an ironic smile on his face.

You mean besides openly giving Krieg a psychological beat-down? You claim to be able to see the future even though you can't be certain of the results of your actions, Baka-Boss!

Well you say it like it's possible to actually become psychic! Puuya I'm doing the best with what I hav-

No you aren't! That's what I'm trying to say! You need to use common sense! You're forgetting that you're not watching this happen on a screen Eve! If you aren't careful, you can and will die and the plot will continue on with or without you.

...I'm well aware of this..But it is as you say..I'll be more careful next time...Um..Thanks..

Sure thing Boss.

I continued to ignore the chefs as they yelled at Sanji, though I smirked slightly when Zeff yelled at them. The corners of my mouth tugged up into a full-blown grin when Sanji had his little epic moment himself. Before I mentally smacked myself in the face before it could turn red.

Something wrong Boss? You don't look so good..

I pretended to adjust my bandana as I subtly forced down the blush trying to take over my cheeks.

...Freakin' Bishōnens…

Hahahahahaha~!

"Hey what do you think about him? Pretty good right?" Luffy said excitedly, pointing at Sanji. Usopp was up and panicking, wanting nothing more than to bolt from the vicinity as fast as he could.

"Who cares about him, if we don't get out of here soon…!"

Zoro placed his hand on the table to get Usopp's attention.

"Calm down, our enemies are wounded pirates."

Luffy had his mind-set grin on his face, arms crossed decidedly over his chest as he sat on our table. "That's right. And besides, I have to fight with that guy. If he truly is strong, then he and i are going to butt heads eventually anyways!" His face lit up in realization as he remembered something. "Oh that's right, Gin." He said, getting his attention. "You said you didn't know anything about the Grand Line. But didn't you guys go there?"

Gin grasped his head with his hands desperately, sweating madly as he relived the nightmare he was put through. "I just don't know if those seven days we spent in the Grand Line were real or a nightmare…! I'm still wrestling with it in my mind…"

I had to strongly resist the feminine urge to go over and comfort him as he continued recounting his "real nightmare."

"...He just appeared all of a sudden...To think that all fifty ships of the Krieg pirate fleet were destroyed by a single man…!"

Everyone lost their cool. (Except for me. And to Zeff's credit, he only looked slightly surprised.)

"WWHHHHAAAAAATTTTT?!"

Gin was trembling, with rage or fear I didn't know. I did know that at this moment, I could never picture him as a "demon". I just saw him as someone who needed help grasping reality in a world where the line between reality and impossibilities hardly existed.

After a tense moment, Zeff finally spoke.

"That had to be...The work of the hawk-eyed man, without a doubt…"

"H-Hawk-eyed man?!" The room exclaimed as Zeff continued.

"You saying that you witnessed a man, whose glare was as sharp as that of a hawk's doesn't necessarily prove it was him. But the fact that he sunk your entire fleet is more than enough proof it was really him…!"

Usopp and Luffy had no idea who hawk-eye was and me and Zoro shared a look.

It went a little something like this:

Do you want to tell morons or…?

I'll tell the morons.

Okay.

Zoro cleared it up simply by saying, "He's the man I've been looking for."

"Did he bear some sort of ill grudge against you guys, for him to destroy your entire fleet like that…?" Sanji queried.

"I don't remember anything like that! He just attacked us all of a sudden!"

"You tripped over him, like I said." I muttered, somewhat annoyed people forgot everything I said earlier. So much wasted breath…

"But if that's true then why would he attack us?!" Gin protested, obviously confused.

I sighed, giving him a look of regret on my face as it scrunched up. "Because he was bored..He still is bored…" I said the last part quietly, looking down at my feet and the boards underneath them.

"A place where even the abnormal is normal, huh." Zoro commented easily.

Luffy got pumped up, clenching his fists and grinning in excitement. "Hee Hee! That sounds like such a thrill! We definitely gotta go there!"

Poor Usopp. "Could you at least try to think of the danger?!" He protested, sweating bullets.

Zoro and Luffy ignored him with practiced ease. "But with this it looks like my own goal is inextricably tied with the Grand Line, considering that 'that man' is there as well!"

Sanji looked thoughtfully at us for a moment, before turning around and bringing his cigarette back up to his mouth. "...Bunch of idiots. You lot are the type to rush to their deaths."

..Freakin' Bishōnens…!

[ Nightcore- "Pound the Alarm" ((Play it until it runs out XD Repeat if necessary for extra awesomeness))]

"True, but I'd rather you leave out the 'idiot' part." Zoro shot back evenly, confidence written on his face. "Ever since I've decided to become the world's greatest swordsman, I threw away my attachment to life. The only one who has the right to call me an idiot is me alone."

I hummed in agreement, nodding as well. Luffy raised his hand like a schoolboy asking for candy. "Ooh! Me too!"

Usopp crossed his arms with obvious (fake) confidence. "As a real man, the same goes for me too." He was promptly called a liar by Zoro.

"Psh…" Sanji said, frowning behind his cigarette that he held tightly with his teeth. "..What a load of crap…" Zeff only smiled.

"Hey, morons! Haven't you realized the situation we're in right now?! The gigantic galleon that's parked right in front of our restaurant, belongs to the Fleet Admiral Don Krieg! The ship of the strongest pirate in all of East Blue-"

"Patty shut the heck up. The galleon will be gone in two minutes." I said nonchalantly. Zoro looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.

"How do you know?"

I grinned nervously at him, anxiety clear in my eyes.

"'Cause I can feel him c-coming.. The man you're looking for is coming...And he's bored."

You'd think I'd have said Zoro was a Sea King.

"W..What?!" Zoro choked out, obviously surprised.

I smiled nervously at the shocked faces of everyone (excluding Luffy, he still doesn't understand.) "Yeah…" A shiver traveled down my back involuntarily as my head snapped towards the doors.

What..Puuya what the heck is this intense pressure..?! Is this..?!

It's his h-haki, yes… He whimpered, I could feel him shaking in fear and I couldn't blame him.

Everyone's eyes slowly followed mine and pinned themselves to the entrance.

A cook called out that he heard the Krieg pirates coming.

I stiffened, jumping to my feet without meaning to.

"GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!"

A terrible ripping sound was heard and suddenly my "shield layer" was visible, the blast feeling like a cool breeze against my skin. Not that it mattered, considering my jaw was on the floor along with everyone else's.

Zoro jolted as a thought struck him and the rest of our crew. Luffy bolted, jumping off tables as he shot out of the restaurant.

"Crap! Our ship was outside too, with Nami, Yosaku, and Johnny still inside!"

We rushed forward, Usopp shouting in panic. "We might be too late already!"

I stopped at the front of the ship, not bothering to round the corner like the others as I searched the smoke and debris for the small, coffin-shaped ship.

Puuya can you see anything?

To your right a bit, behind that chunk of ship!

My breath hitched in my throat as the smoke cleared and I found his eyes pinning mine.

He knew I was looking for him...SUGOI!~!...

..

Ahem.

His eyes were a hard, stony amber, unwavering as he released my eyes from his hold and cast his bored gaze amongst the wreckage of Krieg's former ship. I released a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding and took a moment to take in his appearance. He was obviously well-built and was clothed in a floral-print black jacket (he somehow pulled it off, he made floral print look dangerous, ) that he left unbuttoned. He had a simple pair of blue jeans on and a kogatana around his neck appearing as a golden, cross-shaped pendant. As expected, Mihawk still has his short beard, mustache and sideburns that point upwards.

Epic. Epic buckle boots. I want those boots.

*Cough* Cough* Fangirl *Cough* Cough*

MOVING ON!

A Krieg pirate's nerves snapped. "Dang it! What did we ever do to you! Why the heck do you have to follow us all the way out here!"

Mihawk gave him a withering glance and replied emotionlessly, "Just to kill some time."

The Krieg pirate couldn't stand it and cursed, firing two shots at Mihawk. Mihawk just reached back smoothly and deflected the bullets in one swift movement with Yoru.

"Wha-?! I-It missed?!" I just realized Zoro was behind the Krieg pirate who had freaked out.

Dang Zoro and his magical teleportation powers..!

…

I wish I could teleport…

What, are you going to pout now?~

Heck no! Even acting as a girl I never pouted! You ridiculous bunny-chan you!

I watched Zoro challenge Mihawk with a heavy heart, and sadness evident in my eyes as the fogged over with memories. I felt someone walk up on my left side and we stood there in companionable silence.

"It's a double-edged sword isn't it." Zeff said quietly, staring out and watching Zoro and Mihawk.

I resisted the urge to tremble, and I bit back the frustrated tears that wanted to show as I simply swallowed thickly, nodding.

"...Yeah...It ..It really is.." I chewed on my bottom lip, watching them talk, sizing each other up. I tried to swallow past the burning in my throat, caused by frustration as I crossed my arms, digging my nails into my elbows. I wanted to help him, to tell him what would happen so badly. But I couldn't, and Zeff and I knew that. So I had to watch, watch my friend nearly throw away his life in a one-sided battle.

"You're a very strong girl, for one so young." Zeff said so quietly I almost didn't hear him.

"This is nothing compared to what we will have to go through later on. I'll just have to bear with this burden until I'm strong enough so it is no longer seen that way."

We were silent for a moment as Zoro unsheathed his swords, and Mihawk his kogatana. I smirked wryly when Mihawk said this was the weakest of the four seas.

"It'll be interesting to see the world's reaction when they find out the Future Pirate King comes from 'the weakest of the four seas'." I chuckled, earning a grin from Zeff.

"You're very confident in your Captain aren't you, brat? Though I suppose that's to be expected from a psychic."

I shook my head, detaching myself from my emotions as the duel started.

"Yes, I am confident in him, but not because I am a psychic." I said, turning to him slightly and pointing to my eyes with a digit. "These eyes can only see so much, but with what they've seen...I can confidently say that this straw-hat boy will become the second Pirate King, because he's not after the treasure. He's after the adventure."

A grim atmosphere permeated the air as Zoro slashed fruitlessly at Mihawk, who knocked him to the ground with one-handed ease. My lips were set in a grim line, and my brows furrowed as I bit down on my bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. Yosaku and Johnny's cheering only made it worse for me, and I bit back a spiteful glare in their direction. It wasn't their faults, they were trying to deal with the tension and worry in their own ways.

I resisted the urge to screw my eyes shut to the spectacle before us, chanting to myself in my head that not turning away would make me stronger.

I need to get stronger...I can do this, I'm just watching, he'll live. He'll live. He'll live...H-He'll live…

"Hey Zeff-ossan…" He looked at me, slightly, with a raised brow.

I was subtly clutching the railing, my knuckles snow white and trembling with the strain of not launching myself over it.

"...I have the utmost of confidence in my captain...The same cannot be said for myself.." I said quietly, hearing him grunt in understanding. He would stop me if I tried to intervene in the fight.

I watched as Luffy held back Johnny and Yosaku, my chest swelled with pride, my lips twitching into a small grin, before it disappeared again. I was surprised Usopp wasn't reacting as strongly as I thought he would. That kid is going places…

"TORA-!" Zoro charged forward, his swords in one of his stances.
I sucked in a breath, dreading what was about to happen, my shoulders stiffened and I stood stiff as a board.

"GARI!"

Mihawk stabbed him in the chest. Zoro didn't move backwards, but he couldn't move forwards for the kogatana still in his chest. Mihawk questioned this.

"Do you wish for me to pierce your heart? Why do you refuse to step back?"

Blood was pooling at Zoro's feet and dribbling down his chin and chest. "Beats me...Not really sure myself...But I get the feeling...That if I were to take even one step back right now, I'd lose something very important to me… A promise or oath… Or whatever it is would be irreversibly broken, and that I'd never be able to return back to where I'm standing right now."

"Yes, such is defeat."

"Haha...Then that's why I can't step back…"

"Even if it means your death…?"

"I'd much rather die."

A grin split my face and my grip on the railing laxed, I could watch this now. Zoro knows what he's gotten himself into, and he's prepared. So, now I am as well.

"Kid...Tell me your name." Mihawk said, pulling out the kogatana with a small spurt of blood.

Zoro took up another stance, his strongest so far.

"Roronoa Zoro."

"I shall remember it, for your strength is not oft seen in this world." Mihawk promised, drawing the massive blade, Yoru, from his back. "And to pay my respect to you as a fellow swordsman, I shall end this duel with my black sword, the world's strongest sword."

The Krieg pirates freaked out, fearing the might of the blade. Mihawk charged forward, and Zoro spun his blades in a strange fashion.

"SANTOURYUU OUGI!-"

I grinned as I remembered Mihawk in the manga, he had been surprised by Zoro. I could remember the bead of sweat that ran down his face. I'll be sure to remember this moment, the moment my new nakama set their path.

"SANZEN SEKAI!" Zoro finished, and blood erupted from his body. He tried his best, and that's all I can ask for from my nakama.

All but one of his swords broke, Kuina's sword. He sheathed it and spread his arms wide, giving Mihawk an easy target.

"What..?" Mihawk was bewildered, though he barely showed it.

Zoro just grinned past the blood dripping from his mouth and said, "A wound on one's back, is the shame of a swordsman."

This caused Mihawk to grin as well. "Indeed." And he cleanly cut Zoro from his left shoulder to his right hip. Luffy snapped.

"ZORO! AAHHHH!"

Usopp screamed his name. Johnny and Yosaku were blubbering and wailing.

But I was grinning. I nodded to Zeff, and kicked off the railing, jumping from various bits of debris before I ducked under Luffy, who had rocketed towards Mihawk who had dodged easily. I merely blinked at Mihawk, before the grin on my face grew wider and I grabbed Zoro's sword from the water. It was all I could reach and the bounty hunter bros were already pulling Zoro out.

I carefully gripped the white sheath with both hands before giving a glance at Mihawk, and once again dashing across debris to the small boat they had dragged Zoro onto. I unsheathed the sword and placed it in the unconscious Zoro's hand, giving myself a satisfied nod before stepping back and thanking the forces above for not being able to smell.

Wait! What sort of rabbit can't smell?!

I'm not a rabbit, I'm a human being dangit! You're the rabbit! I'm not!

That still doesn't explain anything!

I'll tell you later, Zoro's about to make his promise!

I watched as Zoro slowly raised his katana into the air, to the astonishment of the onlookers.

"L-Luffy… C...Can you hear me…?"

"Yeah!"

"Sorry for worrying you… I know...That if I don't become...The world's strongest swordsman, it will only embarrass you…!" He coughed up some blood painfully and some of it splashed onto my cheek.

Ew.

"I SWEAR!" Zoro had a hand on his forehead and he was crying. "THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO LOSE AGAIN! UNTIL THE DAY THAT I FIGHT HIM AND WIN...I SWEAR! TO NEVER LOSE AGAIN! Any problems, Pirate King?!"

Luffy chuckled and beamed at him. "Hehe! Nope!"

I sighed, the tension finally leaving my shoulders as I chuckled. "My gosh if you keep on going like this, I'll get gray hairs before I'm sixteen!"

This is another moment I'm proud to be a Straw-hat pirate.

Thank you all so much for all the reviews! I really appreciate them so much~!

If you think it's weird that Eve was grinning when Zoro got slashed, then good. Mission accomplished!

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