Luffyko watched as Zoro looked at the man then got down to business, "I can still see the ship. Yosaku, Johnny get your ship. Zoro, Usopp, leave right away. Go find Nami."

"Never mind. Let it go." Zoro said as he looked away. He had more pressing issues, like Luffyko's safety from the disgusting pirate. "Theres no need to chase that woman."

"I can't be without her as my navigator!" Luffyko demanded as she looked at the swordsman, daring him to defy her.
Zoro waited to see if she would give and when he knew she was serious he caved, "Fine, what a pain in the ass captain. Hey Usopp, let's go." When the other ship drew near Zoro turned to Luffyko, "Luffyko, what about you?"

"I haven't fully repaid this restaurant yet, so I can't go."

"Do be careful. Things here are abnormal."
Luffyko nodded seriously, she didn't want to worry her swordsman, "Yeah. I know."

Zoro sighed until he heard the pirates panic again and he was clearly able to see the man, "That man is…"

Luffyko looked at him and saw him force down his nervousness, "Zoro, who the heck is he?"

"The man I've been searching for, Hawk Eyes Mihawk."

Luffyko loward her head and looked at the man carefully, "Hawk Eyes Mihawk…"

"The strongest swordsman in the world!" Zoro swallowed hard as he looked at the man, 'I never thought I'd be able to meet him so soon. Finally, the destined time has come. I will beat him to fulfill my dream, and to help Luffyko fulfill hers.' He walked over to where a pirate shot at Mihawk only to have the bullets miss, "It deviated. He redirected it with the tip of his sword." Zoro explained to the pirates surprise. He ignored the pirates and walked forward to address Mihawk, "I've never seen such graceful skill."

"A sword with power alone is not powerful."

"So this ship was cut apart with that sword too?" Zoro asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course."

"It's clear now. You're the strongest! I've been sailing the seas to face you." Zoro said as he removed his bandana from his shoulder and put it over his head.

"What's your mission?"

"To be the best!"

Mihawk smirked at the boy before him, "Fool."

Zoro drew his precious white sword at the man and smirked, "You've got some time to spare, don't you?"

"Duel? Such a pitiful weakling." Mihawk sighed as he effortlessly jumped from his ship to the other, "If you really were a fine swordsman, you should've been able to judge the difference in strengths without drawing your sword. Challenging me…are you that brave? Or simply reckless?"

"This is for my own ambition! And for a promise to my fallen friend." Zoro said as he place one sword in his mouth and held the other two. He watched as Mihawk took a small dagger from his neck, "Hey now, what's the meaning of this?"

"I'm unlike those idiots who use their all to hunt rabbits. Though you're famous enough to be called a swordsman, this is the weakest of the four oceans, East Blue. Unfortunately, I'm carrying nothing smaller than this."

"Quit mocking me!" Zoro said as he charged, "Just don't regret it when you die!"

"You're but someone who's yet to experience the real world."

Zoro attacked, "Demon Cut!" To his shock all three blades were stopped by the small dagger, "Wh…what?!" Zoro tried to get the blades to move, but they wouldn't 'I can't move…What just happened? No one could avoid this technique before, but just with his toy, he…Is this really happening? Is strength like his really this far away? That can't be! It can't be this far away!' He forced his body to move and attacked again, "The world shouldn't be this far off!"

Luffyko forced herself to remain out of the fight. Even as he was easily blocked with the small dagger, "Zoro…" She forced herself to watch as he was knocked to the ground.

Zoro stood back up and glared at the man, "It can't possibly be this far away!" Every attack was dodged with little effort as the man spun around gracefully.

"Such unrestrained skill."

Zoro lunged and then continued his fury of assults to no avail, "I…I didn't come all this way to lose against this toy-like thing!" He attacked and Mihawk dodged hitting him in the back of the neck, cutting off air for a bit. He forced himself to keep to his feet, 'If I could just defeat this man…' He forced himself to go forward and strike only to fall in exhaustion. Still he would not give up.

Mihawk looked at the exhausted swordsman who continued to fight the pointless battle, "What's your mission? Why do you seek the ultimate power, you weakling?" Mihawk barely glanced over as he heard the two men yell at him only to be held back by the slim girl.

Zoro on the other hand was focused on his goal, "I can't afford to lose!" He drew his swords up ready to attack when Luffyko entered his mind, 'That's great! The world's greatest swordsman, eh? As the Pirate King's Companion if you're not at least that, I'd be in a dilemma.' He drew a deep breath, he had to win for Kuina, his past, and Luffyko his future, "Tiger's Hunting Prey!" As he attacked he felt the small blade pierce his skin. He dropped the blades, but refused to step back and admit defeat.

Mihawk looked at him waiting for him to back away, "Do you wish to have this go through your heart? Why don't you step back?"

Zoro felt the blood dripping from his mouth down his neck, "I don't know. I'm not sure why myself, but if I were to take even one step back, I believe that all those important oaths, promises, and many other deals 'til now, will all go to waste and I'll never be able to return before you, ever again."

"Yes, and that's called 'losing'."

"That's why I can't step back."

"Even if it means death?"

"Death may be better!"

Mihawk looked at him with interest, 'Such a strong will, choosing death over defeat.' He felt Zoro move forward and quickly pulled his dagger away and sheathed it, "Kid, announce your name!"

Zoro got ready for another attack, "Roronoa Zoro!"

Mihawk went and grabbed the large blade from his back, "I'll remember that. It's been a while since I've seen such strong will. As a reward, a gesture to a fellow swordsman, I will wield this 'Black Sword', the most powerful sword in the world, to end your life."

"I appreciate your offer." Zoro took a deep breath, 'This is my last chance. World's number one…or death?' He saw Mihawk move and began his attack, "Three Swords Secret Technique! Three Thousand Realms!"

Luffyko grabbed onto Johnny and Yosaku tightly, Zoro was injured but he would never forgive her for interrupting his fight. Then watched in horror as his blades broke and blood splashed away from his chest.

Zoro sheathed his white sword an turned around and held out his swords, when he was questioned he gave a forced grin, "Attacking from behind is a shameless act among swordsmen."

"Well said."

Luffyko watched in horror as Mihawk brought the sword down across Zoro's chest, blood spraying out from the wound, "Zoro!" She watched as Zoro fell into the ocean and she clenched her teeth, her hat hiding her eyes filling with tears, "Damn! Damn! DAMN IT!" She screamed as she pulled her fist back and launched it at the world's greatest swordsman. The man who hurt her friend, the man who hurt Zoro. She grabbed onto the ship and flew over tears streaming from her eyes as she prepared to attack the man. She ignored everyone gawking at her abilities, "Bastard!" Right before she attacked he dodged catching her arm and forcing her to the ground.

"So you're the young swordsman's friend. Thank you for watching over him. Rest assure, that man's still alive."

Luffyko quickly rolled away and looked up to see Zoro breathing above the surface thanks to Johnny and Yosaku. "Zoro!" She watched as he tried to find her only to cough up blood, "Zoro!"

Mihawk looked as the young swordsman was put on the boat, "It's still too early for you to die. My name is Dracule Mihawk! Find your true self, true world, become stronger! No matter how long it will take, I will await you in my strongest form! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!" Mihawk then turned to the slim girl, "Girl, what's your mission?"

"Pirate King."

Mihawk just gave a small grin to the girl, "That's a difficult path, harder than surpassing me."

"Like I'd care, 'coz I'm gonna become one anyway!" Luffyko said as she stuck her tounge out at the man.

"He's alive! He was just unconscious!" Usopp announced.

Luffyko felt relief go through her, "Zoro!"

Zoro raised his sword in the air and yelled, "Luffyko, can you hear me?" When she replied he took a few heavy breaths and continued, "Sorry for worrying you. If I don't become the greatest swordsman in the world, you'd be in dilemma now, right?" He spit more blood out and continued, "I will…I will never…lose again! Until I defeat him and become the greatest swordsman, I'll never be defeated anymore! Any problems with that, Pirate King?"

Luffyko felt her grin come to her face, "None!"

Mihawk looked at the two and smiled, "Good team. I hope we meet again."

"Hold on there, Hawk Eyes." Krieg said as he came forward, he had a chance to increase him power then, and there was no way that little girl would take away his chance, "Didn't you come for my head? East Blue's greatest, Don Krieg's head?"

Mihawk glanced back at the man, "That was my initial intention. But I've had more than enough fun. I'm headed back to sleep."

"It may have been enough fun for you, but I haven't done my bit yet."

Mihawk looked at him bored, "You aren't even worth my time."

Krieg glance at the slim girl and then smirked, "Oh really, even though these little pirates think they can defeat me? You see that little girl? Do you want to know what I plan to do with her?"

Mihawk lokoed at him with disgust, "I'm leaving, like I said your not even worth my time, she will take care of you, if she truly means to be the Pirate King." He watched as Krieg revealed his weapons and sighed, "Fool."

Luffyko quickly got out of the way of the attack and on board the Baratie. "That was close." She turned back to look at the ship Zoro was on, "Usopp! Get going! Take care of Nami!"

Usopp stood up and nodded, "Me and Zoro will definitely get Nami back! You just make that cook one of us! Then we'll make a party of five and head to the Grand Line!" Usopp took her hat and then threw it up in the air so she could grab it sending his prayers for her with it, 'Please let her defeat that man, if she loses he will destroy everything about her we cherish.'

Luffyko grabbed her hat and grinned, "Now get going!" She turned to the old man and grinned then, "Hey if I get rid of 'em, can we call it even?"

Zeff held back a smile, she and her swordsman had strong will, "Do as you please."