Chapter 9 - Oath

The day has finally arrived, and though it's early morning, Zoro is buzzing with excitement. It's finally the first day for the kendo tournament he is taking part in. The tournament starts at 9am, and as it takes 4 hours to get to the other city that it is held in, Zoro is up and ready to leave by half three in the morning. As he is one of the contestants in the competition, he has to be there at 8am, and so he is getting picked up by Nami and her older sister Nojiko, at around 4am. Zoro had been planning to go to the tournament by himself, but Luffy had texted him last night saying that he, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper were all going with him, and that Nojiko would be going too as she would be driving them there and back. Nojiko is the same age as Zoro and Sanji, and instead of staying on in school to take A Levels like they did, she had gone to college to do a diploma in art and design instead. She had started at level 2 and is now currently working on a foundation diploma at level 3.

Bored, and just wanting to leave already, Zoro looks out of his bedroom window and keeps an eye out for an old red and black car. It's not long until said car turns up outside Zoro's house, and he gets a message from Nami telling him to come down straight away, and that she'll charge him for each second it takes for him to get there. The swordsman grins, quickly grabbing his swords, before sprinting down the stairs. He is about to open the front door, but is stopped by his father.

"I didn't know you were up already."

"I haven't been to bed yet. I wanted to see you before you went. I'm sorry I can't come with you."

"Ah, that's fine. There's no one else who can help you with the dojo, and you can't cancel the lessons for today. I understand."

"Yeah… well anyway, good luck today, Zoro."

Zoro smiles and gives Koshiro a brief hug, before leaving out the front door and getting into the back of Nojiko's car.

"Hey grass-head, you took your time."

"It's marimo."

"Oh is it now? Marimo does suit you better," Nojiko replies with a grin.

"O-Oi, it's not marimo either!"

"Sanji calls him that all the time~."

Zoro groans as they tease him about it as they drive away from his house. What the hell did I say that for? I didn't even think about... It just came out….

"Oh hey, speaking of Sanji, have you two kissed and made up yet?"

"Who said anything about kissing?! And no, I haven't talked to him yet…"

"The marimo and his cook have fallen out? That's not much different than normal," Nojiko comments.

"Yeah but, this time it was really bad. They had this huge fight a few weeks ago and haven't spoken since. Neither of them will tell us what it's about though."

"Oi, don't talk about me as if I'm not here."

Ignoring Zoro, Nami keeps talking, as if uninterrupted at all, "Sanji's even split up with Law as well."

The swordsman's eyes widen when he hears that, "he did, why?!"

Nami turns in her seat to look back at him, "He walked in on Law and Kid fucking in Law's apartment," she says with a menacing gaze, clearly angry on Sanji's behalf.

"Seriously?" Nojiko asks, "That bastard was cheating on him? Why am I not surprised?"

Zoro stays silent as Nojiko and Nami discuss what happened between Law and Sanji. The conversation only changes when they stop to pick up Luffy, who jumps into the back with Zoro, complaining about how hungry he is. Once they've got Luffy, they then get a tired looking Usopp, before finally picking up an even more tired looking Chopper, who is still half asleep.

"If I get stopped for having all four of you in the back, one of you lot will be paying for the fine, got it?" Nojiko warns them, before heading off again, turning the radio on and playing one of her CD's with classic rock music on.

As Nojiko turns to take one of the roads out of the city, Nami pulls out several maps she has made notes on and planned out their entire route, "ok, so from here you need to take a left."

"Nami, GPS," her sister replies, not taking her eyes off of the road, and tapping the GPS that has been stuck to the dashboard, before turning it on.

The small gadget turns on, and instantly shows the right route to the place that the kendo tournament is being held at, as Nojiko had already set it up before they left.

"Just because you love geography, and are good at map reading, it doesn't mean I'm going to use your olden day ways," Nojiko teases, her younger sister pouting and huffing as she puts her maps away.

Even though it is still early in the morning, the car journey is far from silent. With Luffy constantly talking, and getting the others to play games with him, once they've fully woken up, the car is actually rather lively. Zoro is, as usual, the quietest one of the lot. He can't stop thinking about Sanji, and wondering if the cook is okay, especially after he ended up walking in on Law cheating on him. Though he reckons it is Sanji's own fault, (having caught Law and Kid at it, not the actual fact that he got cheated on) as he should have listened to him in the first place. Sanji had no right to say those hurtful things that he did, even though they are true. Despite the fact that he's still angry at the cook, he still hopes that Sanji's exam goes well today.

At some point, the swordsman falls asleep, and is woken up by Luffy when they finally get to the building that the kendo tournament is being held in. He wasn't the only who fell asleep on the way there, it ended up that Luffy was the only one who stayed awake the whole time, and of course Nojiko did too, as she was the one driving.

"Ugh, I'm so tired!" Usopp yawns as he stretches once he's gotten out of the car.

Chopper slowly gets out too, still wrapped up in a warm red blanket, "are you guys sure it's ok for us to be here? We might get into trouble at school."

"Either way, it'd be too late now, Chopper. We're already here. And besides, you gave in a sick note right, like I told you to?" Nami asks.

The youngest teen nods, but he still looks worried about the whole thing. As the others stretch and wake themselves up, Zoro spots someone interesting going around the back of the building. The man has a large katana on his back, and if that man is who Zoro thinks he is, there is no way he is going to pass up this opportunity. Silently, he quickly sets off after the man, his friends calling out to him once they notice him walking off.

"Zoro? Oi, Zoro?!" Usopp shouts as he and the others try to catch up with the swordsman, "Zoro?! Where are you going?! The entrance is the other way!"

They keep calling out to him but he ignores them as he rounds the corner of the building.

"You're Dracule Mihawk, right? I heard you would be here, so I came to find you."

"…..What do you aim for?"

The man, who was facing away from him, now turns around to address him. Mihawk is tall and lean, with black hair, a short beard, moustache and sideburns that points upwards. Zoro can now see why that the man's nickname is Hawk-Eyes, as he has strangely coloured yellow eyes, resembling those of a hawk. Mihawk is dressed in red and black ornate clothing, and is wearing a golden, crucifix pendant. His attire consists of a wide-brimmed black hat decorated with a large plume, and a long, open black coat with no shirt underneath, showing off his toned torso, with red, flower-patterned sleeves and collar. He is also wearing a pair of light purple trousers which are held up by a decorated belt and tucked inside overly large, black boots.

"To be the strongest," Zoro replies, grinning as he takes his black bandana off of his forearm and ties it around his head, "are you free? If so, then let's have a duel."

Zoro takes out one of his swords, pointing it towards Mihawk, just as his friends catch up with him.

"Eeek!" Usopp squeaks, "Isn't that the world's greatest swordsman?!"

"Zoro, what are you doing? What about the tournament?" Nami asks with a frown.

"This is more important."

Mihawk glances from one to another, before looking Zoro in the eye, "Not here. People will be turning up soon. There's an old, unused car park not far from here."

The man turns around and the others follow him to a different car park.

"Z-Zoro, are you sure this is such a good idea?" Chopper asks, "You could die…."

"I'll be fine, Chopper."

The green haired swordsman gently ruffles the younger teen's hair, and then starts walking in front of the others as they stop behind him, and he faces Mihawk once more.

"If you're a competent swordsman by any means, then I can demonstrate the clear difference in strength between you and I, without needing to cross blades at all. But still, you dare to challenge me. Does your bravery come from your conviction...? Or from ignorance…?"

"It comes from my ambition and a promise to a friend."

Luffy and the others watch as Zoro takes out the rest of his swords, placing the hilt of the third one into his mouth, and clenching it with his teeth.

"To be honest, I never thought I'd be able to meet you so early on…."

"A waste, if you ask me," Mihawk replies as he grabs his golden crucifix which turns out to be hiding a small dagger, and points the dagger towards Zoro.

"Just what are you planning to do with that?"

"I'm different from those stupid brutes who'd go all out just to hunt a mere rabbit. Unfortunately, I do not have a blade smaller than this at the moment."

"There's a limit, to just how much you can underestimate me!" Zoro growls back, "You better not regret it when you die!"

He gets ready to attack, using his three sword style, and charging for Mihawk.

"Hear me, little frog in his well. It's time for you to realise that the world is bigger than what it seems from your well."

Zoro strikes, using all three of his swords, but they are all easily stopped at the same time by Mihawk's small dagger. He tries to push through, but finds it difficult. I can't move…. There hasn't been a single man who could see through that move until now! So how can he stop me with that toy?! This is ridiculous! It's not possible for the world to be this far away!" Jumping away, he quickly moves in to use another attack, but is sent flying onto his back by Mihawk's defence. There shouldn't be such a vast difference between us! There can't be! He hears his friends from behind him, calling out to him to stop, but he ignores them and continues trying to attack the other swordsman as memories of his promise with Kuina flash inside his head. I didn't train so hard until today, just to fight against this stupid little toy! I trained to win! I came to beat this man! He and Mihawk clash swords once more, the older man keeping him locked in place.

"What burdens you so? What do you still desire at the extent of your strength, weakling….?"

"How dare you call Zoro a weakling?!" Nami shouts as she and her sister step forward, about to try and stop the fight, but Luffy grabs a hold of them and stops them.

"Stay put, right here!"

Zoro is knocked back to the floor by Mihawk, but he gets back up and charges at his opponent again. As he strikes, Mihawk dodges all three of his swords, and uses Zoro's opening as a chance to drive the dagger into his chest, but not very deep. Zoro's friends call out to him as he is stabbed, and he clenches his teeth down onto the sword in his mouth as he bears with the pain, standing still.

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

"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."

What conviction he possesses! To rather choose death than defeat…. "Kid… tell me your name," Mihawk orders as he pulls his dagger out of Zoro's chest.

"Roronoa Zoro."

"I shall remember it, for your strength is not often seen in this world. 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 older swordsman relies as he puts his dagger back in its place before unsheathing the large black sword on his back.

Mihawk charges at Zoro, but he has one more trick up his sleeve. Spinning his swords, Zoro charges right back at hawk-eyes. Both strike at each other as they cross paths, but unfortunately for Zoro, one of his swords is sliced, and Mihawk's attack does not miss, causing him to cough up blood. I lost… I'm no match for him…. Never even thought about the possibility of losing…. So this is… the strength of the world's strongest….!

Zoro sheaths his swords, and then stands in front of Mihawk with his arms wide open, to the surprise of the other swordsman.

"What…?"

"A wound on one's back, is the shame of a swordsman."

"Splendid," Mihawk grins as he takes Zoro's invitation, and slices the green haired teen across his chest.

"Zoro!" Luffy cries out, as he and his friends watch in horror while Zoro falls, defeated, blood pouring out of him from several wounds.

Don't rush to death so fast! Young one! Mihawk sheaths his sword back onto his back, as Zoro's friend's rush over to the fallen teen, and he dodges an attack from Luffy.

"Damn you!"

Luffy attacks him once more, but he deflects it and sends the boy flying, "fear not. That man is still alive."

Looking back behind him, he hears Zoro coughing, surrounded by the rest of their friends as they call an ambulance.

As he drifts in and out of consciousness, before he finally gives in, the last words he hears are Mihawk's,

"I am Dracule Mihawk! It is much too early for you to die. Know thy self! Know thy world! And become strong, Roronoa! No matter how many months or years pass by, I shall wait for you. So forge on ahead with that fierce conviction and try to surpass my sword! Surpass me, Roronoa!"