Chapter 14

"If I let you in, you'd just want out. If I tell you the truth, you'd vie for a lie. If I spilt my guts, it would make a mess we can't clean up. If you follow me, you'll only get lost. If you try to get closer, we'll only lose touch."-Don't Go, Bring Me The Horizon

"The powerful Krieg pirates were defeated by one man?"

Everyone in the room was a little shocked and/or tense at Gin's revelation of who destroyed the fleet. The poor man was hunched over with his head in his hands shaking uncontrollably. Kya was merely copying his movements; her head in her hands as she leaned on the table with her elbows in fear.

"He must be the 'Hawk Eyes Man'." Zeff said calmly. "Based on your story, the 'eyes that look like hawk eyes' might not be enough evidence, but if that man could do something like that, I think it's enough to believe that he was the 'Hawk Eyes'." He finished, making everyone gasp. "The-The Hawk Eyes…?" Usopp asked, frightened for a moment before turning to Luffy, confused. "Do you know who he is?" He asked, and Luffy shrugged. "I don't know. Who?"

"He is the person I'm looking for." Zoro said darkly, making the young woman sit up suddenly. "Zoro, no." She growled angrily, but he blew her off. "From what Johnny told me, this restaurant-" The chefs cut him off with their loudness.

"The Hawk Eyes?"

"I only know of that 'Drunk Eyes' that used to come here."

"Ya, that man drank too much wine and became very drunk."

"Then he burned himself. And that was a very beautiful flame."

Zoro made an angry sound before speaking lowly. "That stupid Johnny gave me the wrong information." He muttered. "What's wrong with Johnny?" Luffy asked, not hearing the swordsman well. "Nothing." Kya furrowed her eyebrows. "You can't fight him." She said angrily and he glanced at her. "And why not? I have to beat him to become the strongest swordsman." He argued. "I swear to god if you fight that man if he comes here and live I'll kill you." She growled at him, making him chuckle.

"I don't remember anything, everything happened so suddenly." Gin whimpered quietly. "Maybe it's because you interrupted his nap." Zeff said seriously. "Don't joke around! If that was true why would he destroy our fifty ships!" Gin shouted loudly. "You don't have to be so upset. I guess it's just because so many people say that the Grand Line is a dangerous place like that." Zeff told him calmly.

"You mean it's not strange that this happened to them?" Zoro asked. "Wow! That's so exciting! I really have to go there!" Luffy suddenly shouted making Usopp freak out. "Aren't you afraid just a little?" Kya was still in shock; one of the people she despised most was probably coming to the restaurant and the fact that her crewmate was about to throw his life away to fight him. All this made her head spin painfully.

"That also means my goal really involves the Grand Line because that man is there." Zoro said darkly, leaning back in his chair. "…..You're crazy. You guys are going to die." Sanji suddenly said from across the room. "That may be right, but to say that we're crazy is too much." Zoro argued, gaining everyone's attention. "After I decided I would become the strongest swordsman, I left my life behind. The only person that has the right to say I'm crazy is myself." He finished proudly. "Yes, me too!" Luffy raised his hand smiling. "That's true for a real man like myself!" Usopp threw in, earning a hit to the head with the hilt of Zoro's katana. "Stop lying!" Kya crossed her arms and sighed. "I can say that every single one of you is crazy." She muttered.

"Gee, that's crazy." Sanji said boredly before the bald chef began screaming. "You still don't understand what's going on? The ship that's docked in front of our restaurant is the giant galleon ship that belonged to Don Krieg. It is also the ship of the scariest pirate in East Blue. Do you understand now? You can do any crazy thing after you take care of this!" He cried out as there was a loud rumbling of voices coming from outside. Kya quickly stood to her feet and made her way over to the fallen man of Krieg's fleet. "You should get out of the way." She said lightly, feeling sorry for the man for enduring the wrath of Hawk Eyes. He looked up at her and nodded, blushing slightly. She grabbed his hand and helped him up as the cooks began to shout yet again.

"Here they come!"

"We have to protect our ship!"

A few men came raining down and Kya put Gin's arm around her shoulder to help him up. ""Get out of our way, stupid chefs!" the pirates yelled cockily. Just as it seemed like the whole crew would jump out, there was a loud crashing sound that sent the waves ten feet high and the galleon to pieces. "Damn! Nami, Yosaku and Johnny are still on the ship!" She heard Zoro yell from behind her. "Shit. I'm going to set you right down in the chair. Okay?" She put the sickly man in a nearby chair before taking off after her crew.

It looked as though a storm was raging outside and the Merry was nowhere in sight. She slid up to the railing on Zoro's other side, only to see Johnny and Yosaku flailing in the water. "Brother help!" The cried together. "Are you okay Johnny, Yosaku! What about the ship? Where is the ship! What happened to Nami?" Zoro yelled out at them. "Brother! The ship isn't here anymore! Sister Nami took all the treasure and escaped with your ship!"

"What?"

It took the crew a while, but they managed to pull the two bounty hunters up to the deck, where they instantly fell to their knees and began crying. "We are really sorry brother!" Johnny screamed before explaining what happened. Kya rubbed her temples as she listened to how it happened; Nami had tricked them to turn around before pushing the two off the boat and taking off. 'That bitch!'

"Damn it! I thought she'd changed! But behind our back, she is still the same person as before!" Zoro shouted angrily. "We're doomed." Usopp said, tears in his eyes. "And she said I was the backstabbing one!" Kya huffed, kicking the railing.

"Wait! I can still see our ship!" Luffy said suddenly, looking out into the horizon. Sure enough, there was the Merry Go, sailing away peacefully. "Look! Let's go after it! Yosaku, Johnny, how about your boat?" The boy turned to the partners. "It's still here." They said uncertainly.

"Zoro! Usopp! Kya!"

"Just leave her. There's no reason to follow her." Zoro said coldly, and Kya nodded in agreement. "She doesn't mean anything anymore." She said blatantly. "But that ship is important!" Usopp told them. "That ship is-"

"I want only her to be our navigator." Luffy declared finally. Kya stared into the boy's eyes for a minute, before sighing. "I'm only doing it for the ship." She muttered as Zoro put a hand on his forehead. "Okay, okay. I get it. You really give me a headache. Let's go Usopp." He said boredly as the three of them walked over to where Johnny and Yosaku's ship was docked. "Brother Zoro! Over here! We have prepared our boat for you!" Yosaku yelled out.

"How about you Luffy?" Usopp asked before they got on the boat. "I'll stay here because I don't want to owe them." He said simply. "Take care. This place is pretty dangerous." Zoro said sternly and Kya nodded. "Try not to cause too much damage." Their captain nodded. "Got it!"

"That man!"

"Captain Krieg! That man is the person who destroyed our ships!"

"He is chasing us here? Does he want to kill us?"

Kya froze in her place, slightly turning her head to look at the darkness coming from behind the galleon. "Is he the "Hawk Eyes"?" Zoro muttered from beside her. 'No. No. No. It's not him. It can't be!' She tried to tell herself but failed miserably upon seeing the small ship that held the swordsman. An icy chill ran down her spine as he lifted his head to show his eyes.

"Damn you! You don't have anything to do with us! Why do you have to follow us?" One of Krieg's pirates shouted from the broken ship, two pistols in his hands. "Just to kill time." Mihawk finally spoke, his voice deep and dark. "Stop insulting us!" The pirate shouted and began firing.

"Don't do this." She watched painfully as Zoro began to walk towards the fighting. "Ah, I have to." He said simply. She went to go after him but Luffy's arms wrapped around her, pulling her back into his chest. "Let him do this." He said quietly. "Luffy! You don't understand! He's going to die!" She cried, watching with wide eyes as Mihawk pulled his long, cross like sword to stop the bullets and the young captain only held onto her tighter.

"He missed?" Krieg's pirates shouted in fear. "No matter how many times you try, you will miss shooting him." Zoro said from his new spot on the broken galleon. "He uses his sword to change the course of the bullets." The pirates dispersed in dear at the sight of the green haired man. "Who are you?" One shouted, but his question was left unanswered.

"I've never seen someone with such gentle skill before." Zoro marveled and Kya brought her hands up to Luffy's arms and squeezed them tightly. "If a sword doesn't have gentleness it is not strong." Mihawk said simply.

"Luffy you have to stop him. He doesn't know what he's getting in to." She murmured lightly, not wanting to see her friend get killed. "I'm sure he'll be fine. He's strong." The taller boy chuckled lightly. "No, Luffy. This man is different than any we've seen before." She swallowed before sighing. "But if this is his choice, then it's his choice."

"I have looked for you a long time." Zoro pulled his bandana off his arm. "What do you want from me?" Mihawk asked, slightly annoyed. "The ultimate powers." Zoro tied his bandana around his head. "You're free right? Why don't fight me?"

Sighing, she slipped from Luffy's grasp. "We might not be leaving with him." She murmured, jumping onto the boat with Usopp and the other two bounty hunters. "Hey! This isn't good Luffy! Our ship is almost out of sight!" The sharpshooter cried out, but he went unheard.

"I really feel sorry for you, weakling." Mihawk said coldly, no expression on his face. "Even the greatest swordsman won't fight me because they can estimate their power and compare it to me." He continued as he stepped up onto the broken ship with Zoro. "Your strong will that wants to challenge me comes from your brave heart…..or from your foolishness."

"It is my dream and my promise to my best friend." Zoro said sincerely placing his katana in his mouth. Kya chewed the inside of her cheek. Was there any point in stopping this? No. No one would listen. Zoro would never let her hear the end of it. Though, when he finds out how she knows this despicable human he'll never let her hear the end of that either.

"I never thought I would find you so soon." Zoro said, all three of his swords out and ready. "That does not make you any better." Mihawk told him. "The greatest swordsman and the pirate hunter?" Someone asked from the other side of the restaurant. "No one can defeat brother!" Johnny and Yosaku shouted cockily.

That's when Mihawk did something surprising everyone: he pulled off his cross necklace which happened to be a small dagger. "What do you think you're doing?" Zoro growled at him. "I am not a stupid person to use all of what I have to hunt a rabbit. I know that there are many people in this world who want to become famous. This place is East Blue, the weakest of all that are separated by the Grand Line and Red Line. Unfortunately, I don't carry a smaller knife than this one."

"Watch your words man. Otherwise, you'll regret it when you die!" Zoro shouted, angry, as he lunged towards Mihawk. "You are just another person who has never seen the real world." Zoro's technique was stopped with the little dagger, and it seemed as though the older man was putting in no effort at all.

"Zoro!" Luffy shouted as Kya's hand went up to her mouth. 'This is not good. It's going to be over soon and Zoro will be dead.' It felt weird, to actually worry about someone so much for the first time in a long time; it almost felt new to her.

"He can stop brother Zoro!

"Even the greatest technique!"

Then Mihawk whispered something to Zoro, something no one could hear. 'He's probably telling him.' She thought, a little afraid, as Zoro pulled back and began attacking. Mihawk simply stopped all attempts with the little dagger, even knocking the younger man to the ground. "Stop joking around brother!" Johnny shouted, laughing slightly. "Pull yourself together and get serious!"

"He uses that small knife to counter all of Roronoa Zoro's attacks!" Someone from Krieg's fleet cried out. 'This is not good….not good.' Kya could feel the inside of her cheek bleeding, but kept chewing; it stopped her from yelling at the men. "I practice to win! I've practiced so hard to defeat this man!" Zoro cried out as he attacked more. "What is your duty? And what do you want from the ultimate power? You weakling."

"You called our brother weakling! Stupid!"

"We have to teach you a lesson!"

"Stop! Don't get involved Yosaku, Johnny!" Luffy grabbed the back of the bounty hunter's coats and shoved their faces against the railing of their boat. "We have to be patient." He continued, watching the scene intently. "Luffy…." Usopp trailed off, not noticing Zoro being thrown to the ground again.

'I could have stopped him. I could have prevented this.' Kya wrapped her arms around herself as Zoro got back up and attempted to slice Mihawk, only to have the small dagger be thrusted close to his heart. "Brother!" Yosaku and Johnny shouted, while the others twitched in anger.

'Don't kill him. Don't kill him. Don't kill him.' She begged over and over in her mind as she watched the blood pour out of Zoro's chest. "Do you want this knife to go through our heart? Why aren't you stepping back?" Mihawk asked incredulously. "I-I don't know. However if I take a single step back….I'd feel that I had broken my promise and I will not be able to stand here again." Zoro answered as blood fell from his mouth. "Right. That's called losing." Mihawk's face was stoic as Zoro chuckled. "That's why I can't step back."

"Even if it means you will lose your life?"

"If I have to lose, I'd rather die!"

Kya cringed as the dagger was removed from her friend's chest. "Tell me your name kid." Mihawk demanded. "Roronoa Zoro." He held his swords out in front of him. "I'll remember that. I haven't met someone with such a strong will like you for a long time." Mihawk removed his large sword from his back. "And to repay that, I will use the Black Sword, the strongest sword in the world, to end your life."

"No…." She placed her hands over her mouth as people around her began to shout in fear. Mihawk lunged forward as Zoro began to spin his swords in a timely fashion. "Please stop brother!" Johnny cried out, almost as if he was in physical pain too.

Mihawk and Zoro met, the Black Sword cutting Zoro across the stomach and breaking the two katanas in his hands. In a surprising fashion, the younger man knelt and sheathed his non broken katana before turning around and facing Mihawk.

"What are you doing?" The twisted man asked, only making Zoro smile. "It's shameful for a swordsman to be hit from behind." He answered, causing a smirk to emerge from Mihawk's lips. "Splendid!" That's when the sword slashed diagonally across Zoro's chest, spraying blood everywhere.

"Zoro!" Luffy shouted as his first mate fell back into the sea with his katana. 'Shit. Shit. Shit. He's not dead, it wasn't deep enough. But still. He could die. Shit.' Kya's mind was racing out of control as she looked up at Mihawk. He caught her eyes with his and they stayed like that for a few moments until she frowned deeply. He didn't show any change of emotion besides boredom until Luffy stretched his arm out and slung himself over to the boat. "Luffy, no!" She cried out, but he didn't listen. "Usopp." She breathed to the long nosed boy but he shrugged, still shocked by the whole thing too. She watched as her captain shot him himself into the side of the boat, getting stuck for a few moments.

"Brother! Can you still here us?" She leaned over the boat to see Johnny and Yosaku carrying the bloody swordsman up to the boat. "Zoro!" Luffy cried out as the four pulled the injured man aboard. "I am Dracule Mihawk. It is too soon for you to die." Mihawk's words echoed around them as the four tried to apply medicine to Zoro's wound. "We have to get his shirt off." Kya said quickly, kneeling by the boy's head. "Kya's the only one who knows first aid, let her do it!" Usopp clumsily handed her the first aid box. She pulled out a jar of medicine as Mihawk spoke to Zoro more, but she ignored it; he needed more focus than those man's words.

"Brother say something!" Johnny cried, getting in the man's face but she smacked him away. "He needs room to breathe!" She yelled, pushing the boys away. "Kya? Is Zoro alright!" Luffy shouted and she turned to him. "He's not dead, just unconscious." She said back, before applying pressure the bleeding areas with a cloth. "Brother!" "Say something brother!"

That's when a bloody hand grabbed her wrist, making her stop, and the other hand held a katana upwards. "Zoro…" She whispered, slightly confused. "L-Luffy. C-Can you hear me?" He strained, tears brimming his eyes. "Yes!"

"I am sorry for making you worry about me. If I…can't become an invincible swordsman, you will be worried about me right?" He continued, tears falling from his eyes. "Don't' say anything now brother!" "Brother!" Johnny and Yosaku were both in tears while Kya just looked at her friend sadly. "From now on….I won't lose to anyone ever again! Until I can beat that man and become the greatest swordsman! I won't lose again! Forever!" He was sobbing now. "Do you have any problems, Pirate King?"

"Nope!" Luffy chuckled as Mihawk began to walk off. "You are a very good team. I hope that I will see you again." He said, and Kya turned back to Zoro. He was clutching her wrist tightly, tears still falling and his wound bleeding heavily. "Zoro, you have to let go off my arm." She said, trying to pry it off but it wouldn't budge.

What she wasn't expecting, was for him to throw her back away from him. "Don't touch me!" He shouted angrily at her. Usopp's jaw dropped to the ground. "B-But Zoro! She's the only one-" "I don't care! Don't let her touch me! I'll stitch myself up!" He grabbed the first aid box off the ground as she stood to her feet and brushed herself off. "Whatever makes you happy."

They had been sailing for a few hours now; Zoro was fast asleep in the bedroom while Usopp, Yosaku, and Johnny were passed out on the stern. Kya sat up against the wall next to the door of the cabin, staring at the sky.

He knew; he knew and he was angry with her. That's why he refused to let her stitch him up. She sighed and closed her eyes. It should have been expected. It's not every day you learn that your crewmate is the niece of the man you want to kill, is it? But it shouldn't matter. She hated that man anyways.

'I should probably make sure he isn't dead.' She thought as she tiredly got to her feet, leaning on the wall for support. She needed sleep, but that was impossible for now. She needed to watch over them.

As she walked into the cabin, the sound of snoring didn't hit her ears, which was slightly odd. She lit a small candle on shelf before walking over to the injured man. "I'm sorry." His voice startled her a little; she wasn't expecting him to be awake. "What are you talking about?" She played dumb, placing a hand on his forehead. "You have a fever. Go back to sleep."

"You were right, except I didn't die. I almost did though." He chuckled lightly and she shook her head, sitting on a chair on the other side of the room. "You're an idiot." She said simply, making him laugh a little more. "I'll be okay though. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell us?" He said, still staring at the ceiling.

"He doesn't matter to me." She said simply, crossing her legs. He turned to look at her, wincing slightly. "But he's your uncle?" He questioned. "He's my mother's brother, that's it. Nothing more."

"You don't like him?"

"I hate him."

"Why?"

"I asked him to help and he never did."

He looked at her strangely. "Help with what?" She chuckled. "Do you expect me to tell you my life story?" She cocked her head to the side making him frown. "No. I was just asking." He muttered. "This is only the third time I've seen him my entire life, honestly. I don't particularly care about him, even though he is the only family I have left. I hope one day though, you kill him." She said truthfully, leaning back. "Sorry, again. For being angry with you earlier." He cleared his throat awkwardly. She gave a small chuckle as she closed her eyes. "It's understandable. You should get some sleep though, you're fever will go down." Although, she didn't even need to say anything as he was already fast asleep. "Bakas." She muttered, finally falling asleep herself.