Hey everyone, last time had Luffy and friends arrive at the Baratie. With Mihawk joining the fight, Zoro met his goal. The chapter is short as I wanted to focus on the fight and not over drag out more than needed. If you wish to read ahead the next two chapters of this and other stories, decide what I write next, or just support me, then consider joining my pat reon. Thank you all again.
Sanji looked on in awe at the destruction a man hundreds of yards away had caused. The galleon was cut in multiple directions and proceeded to sink quickly to the depths below. "He still does the most redicilous things." He heard Hancock mutter as she stared at the man slowly drifting towards them. "He is going to ruin our party."
"Relax, we will just have a conversation." Bonney said as she placed a hand on Boa's shoulder.
"Not likely." Luffy stated as he looked intensely at Mihawk with a glare.
"He is actually here." Zoro stated as he looked at his goal. "I never thought, my dream would be finished this early."
"I will not stop you from fighting. Remember your training." Luffy stated as he saw the coffin ship come to the docks. "Zeff, can you give us some open space."
The Strawhat marines watched as the man known as the greatest swordsman slowly drifted towards them as if destiny had finally caught them. Mihawk looked from side to side at the men and women that had gathered on the dock. "Well, this is an unexpected surprise." Mihawk stated as he saw the marines lined up with one of his fellow warlords.
"You ruined my anniversary!" Boa yelled at him as he made it onto the docking area.
"Oh, I did not realize the date. My apologies." Mihawk stated as if he clearly did not care that he had interrupted anything. "I was merrily doing my duty and removing the riff raff that I had wondered upon."
"Of course, and that just so happened to end up here." Boa was annoyed even further by Mihawk's disinterested attitude.
"But of course. It is fate though that I would meet you two again." Mihawk stated as he directed his gaze towards Law and Luffy.
"Rather would have preferred to wait to meet you to be honest..." Luffy muttered as he saw Zoro further tense up.
"Dracule Mihawk, the man known as the greatest swordsman in the world. It is my dream to meet you." Zoro stated as he stared at the man in between him and his goal.
"Oh, and what is it you wish to accomplish?" Mihawk asked, turning to the Santoryu style swordsman.
"To beat you." Zoro said with a smile as he pulled out his swords. "It is my entire reason for setting out to the sea."
"Then, it has been a foolish reason. But perhaps you will prove me wrong." Mihawk as he went to pull out a small knife from his necklace.
"What is that?" Zoro questioned as he saw the man acting disrespectful.
"Sorry, I do not have a smaller blade with me." Mihawk stated as he turned to fight the fellow swordsman.
"You are not going to use your actual blade?!" Zoro yelled as he got angrier.
"You do not use a cannon to kill a fly." Mihawk nonchallantly stated.
"You dare mock me?!" Zoro stated as he felt his anger growing.
"Zoro!" Luffy called out causing the swordsmen to look at the man. "He is testing you. Prove to him you are worthy."
"Luffy..." Zoro muttered as he looked at his leader.
"Luffy, you should know better than to butt in on my fights." Mihawk stated, looking at the man as calm as ever.
"I guess, I will have to prove it to you then. I am worthy." Zoro stated, finding the calm in his zen-like state after Luffy's words.
"Hmm, we shall see." Mihawk again said, ignoring Zoro's comments as he took his stance.
"Oni Giri!" Zoro called out as he rushed towards the man in front of him.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Both Johnny and Yosaku called out, as Mihawk blocked all 3 blades with his kogatana.
'This pressure is insane!' Zoro thought as he could not move his blades. 'Is this the strength of the world's strongest!'
'Hmm, interesting.' Mihawk thought as he looked at the young man in front of him. Mihawk had intended to toy with the young man. Dodging his fierce assault of his 3 sword style while dodging and parrying with his kogatana. The clashing of the blades was heard as Johnny and Yosaku called out their support to their friend. Luffy however lowered his head as he continued to watch the fight.
Zoro continued to attack the man as fast as he could. 'I need to do something to win this.' Zoro thought as he turned to his head as their blades were in a deadlock again. Jumping back, Zoro pulled his blades to one side. 'It is now or never!' He thought as he had only performed this feat once. Zoro slashed at the man as a wave of air seemed to move off of his blades toward Mihawk. It was only thanks to the man's experience and haki that he felt the air blade before it happened.
"Damn. I thought for sure it would hit him." Zoro muttered to himself before launching himself back at the man hoping to push him off balance.
"Such fiercity. Tell me what burdens do you bear?" Mihawk questioned Zoro as he continued to dodge him and parry his blows. Striking Zoro in the neck with a swift hand chop Mihawk continued. "What is it you desire once you have obtained power, young one?"
Mihawk jumped back as Zoro got up, slashing his swords around at the other swordsman. "I refuse to lose." Zoro called out as he stared down his opponent. "Tiger Trap!" Zoro roared out as he pulled his katanas behind the one in his mouth.
Zoro rushed at the man standing there waiting for him as if he had accepted his defeat. It was when Zoro noticed the small blade in his chest. "I must admit, I am impressed." Mihawk stated as Zoro looked down at the blade. "Not many can perform the air blade even in Paradise. Much less in the assumed weakest of the 4 blues. However, it is over."
Zoro looked on, refusing to move. "Why do you not retreat? Do you wish for me to pierce your heart?"Mihawk asked looking strangely at the young man that was slowly earning his respect. "Do you truly wish to die?"
"I have trained day and night to reach you. If I take a step backwards, I feel like I will never stand here again." Zoro stated as he refused to move.
"That is called defeat." Mihawk stated looking intensely at the other man.
"Then I refused to back away." Zoro said as the blade pushed slightly deeper.
"Even if you will die?" Mihawk questioned.
"Better to die, then to give up on our dream." Zoro said as he did not budge.
"State your name, kid." Mihawk asked as he pulled back his kogatana from Zoro's chest and placed it back in its sheath.
Zoro pulled up his 3 blades in a triangle fashion with the blades facing out. "Roronoa Zoro." He stated reading for what would like be his final attack.
"I will sink you using the strongest black blade." Mihawk said as he pulled Yoru from his back.
"I appreciate it." Zoro stated as he started his technique. "3 sword style secret technique!"
'This is it, the world best... or death.' Zoro thought as Mihawk rushed towards him.
"Fall Three Thousand Worlds!" Zoro stated as Mihawk and him collided.
Zoro watched as his 2 katanas shattered as a blood seeped out of his wound that had appeared on his chest. Taking his friends beloved blade from his master Kuina from his mother and into its scabbard. "What are you doing?" Mihawk asked as he saw Zoro turn and face the him.
"A scar on a swordsman's back is the ultimate shame." Zoro stated as he held his arms out not hiding his chest.
"Excellent!" Mihawk said showing for the first time in the entire fight emotion as a smile graced his lips.
Everyone watched as Mihawk slashed Zoro across the chest and fell into the sea. "ZORO!" Luffy yelled as he rushed Mihawk as the fight was official over. "Room" Nami heard Law state as she rushed to the water with several others to get the swordsman out of the sea. Nami jumped in as she saw Zoro slowly float down. She did not notice the others as Reiju and Sanji as they all pulled Zoro up. Together they broke the surface. "Law now!" Reiju called out as she knew what was about to happen. "Shambles!" Law called out as he teleported them all to the deck beside him.
Luffy ignoring this all rushed the man who had trained him. "Why?! You had already won, why kill him?!" Luffy asked as his fist smashed into Mihawk's blade.
"Calm yourself." Mihawk stated as he was pushed to a defensive position as Luffy continued to attack. "He still lives."
"What?" Luffy asked as he missed his footing causing him to fall.
"I have not seen a man of this potential in a long time." Mihawk stated as he turned to the marine. "He is what I wish many swordsmen were."
"Luffy..." Zoro called out as Law had already started his treatment. "I will not lose again... not until we change this world for the better. Can you handle that?"
"Yep!" Luffy called out as he got back to his feet. "Sorry about that."
"You always let your emotions get the better of you." Mihawk stated as he looked towards the down swordsman. "Find yourself, travel the world, become stronger! No matter how long it may take, I will wait for you in my strongest form! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! We shall meet again Roronoa Zoro."
"You are just going to leave?" Luffy asked as he realized they no longer has to fight him.
"Indeed, I have finished what I came out to do and found my curiosity sated." Mihawk replied as he turned to the young marine. "You and your crew have much potential. I look forward to see what you are going to do in the future."
Mihawk hopped back onto his boat sitting once more on his single seat. "Jinbe wanted me to tell you that he has almost completed the task. He awaits you at the sharks domain." Mihawk told Luffy as he started to sail away.
"He is such a dick." Hancock muttered as she watched the man leave. "He could have said that before."
"True, but he is heading away." Reiju relaxed as she saw Law give them a nod as he disappeared back onto their ship.
"Well, this will give Jinbe an extra day to finish his meeting." Boa explained as Nami had gotten up from watching the explanation.
"Jinbe?" Nami questioned as she did not know that name.
"One of the warlords." Luffy explained as he looked out to the ocean. "He is who I asked to help with our fishy problem."
"Hopefully, he didn't attack Hachi." Nami sighed. "He is really the only nice Fishman on that island."
"Well, we will be setting out tomorrow morning as long as Law gives us the go ahead." Luffy explained as he came up behind Nami. "It will all be over soon."
"Luffy..." Nami muttered as she felt herself being hugged from all sides as the rest of females. "Thank you..."
Meanwhile
Jinbe watched as his one upon a time friend met up with a small group of marines. 'Interesting, what is this about?' Jinbe thought as he looked on from the sea as it seemed the rest of the Fishmen had just ignored the fact they were vunerable from underwater.
"Nezumi, welcome back to Arlong Park. I am glad you have come." Arlong called out the the rat like marine and his group.
"Ah, Arlong. Just the man I was hoping to see." Nezumi said as he seemed to walk confidently though they all knew he was a coward. "What can I do for you?"
"There seems to be a big goose egg of close to one hundred million beries left on the island." Arlong stated as he needed to set Nami back. "The money has all been stolen of course. It is a shame that it is not returned to its rightful owners."
"Chee chee chee. I see, I must retrieve it immediately then. Of course the finder fees will be paid to those that found it." Nezumi stated as he knew how much he would be getting.
"Of course, our usual deal." Arlong stated as he looked at the man. "I expect you to do this in three days as it will give us time to avoid suspicion."
"Of course. Of course." Nezumi grinned. "I will be back in three days."
Jinbe watched as the corrupt marine and crew walked out. He heard Arlong's crew questioning why he would do that. "Because, Nami might be a pathetic human, but she is a genius." Arlong said as he pulled out the map he had her make. "I will use that genius to kill all the inferior species in this sea. Then once we have this entire sea under our control she can be free. Not before."
"What if she has the money to pay off her village?" Kuroobi question. "She is close as we already know."
"Well, I am a man of my word." Arlong said as he started to laugh. "I will give her this island. But they will have to pay taxes. Afterall, if she can't pay for it. Well we can always take it off of her hands again. Shahahahaha"
Almost all of the Fishman joined in cheering and partying about the fall of the sea. 'Oh Arlong, what have you done?' Jinbe thought as he had heard enough and sank back into the water. 'I need to report to Luffy.'
That Night
"So beansprout, what are you thinking?" Zeff asked as he pulled up next to Sanji as they ate together as they always did.
"Honestly, I do not know. Do you think they can find it?" Sanji asked his father in all but blood.
"Sanji, you are strong," Zeff started as he looked at his son. "But it will not be enough if you want to find our dream. If you stay here forever you will never become stronger. You will never fulfill our dream."
"What about you?" Sanji asked looked at all that they built. "Who will protect this if I leave?"
"Well, I think we have done a bang up job collecting lost souls here." Zeff said as he watched his crew bring Gin up to snuff about the kitchen. "We will be fine. It is time for you to leave the nest."
"Dad..." Sanji teared up as he hugged the man who had given him everything.
The next day
"Right..." Luffy said as he talked back to the snail phone. "I will be there in 2 days. You can deal with the others except the man name Hachiman. Arlong is mine though."
"Alright, but get here soon." The snail called out as it seemed to build up static.
"Will do." Luffy stated as he got up off of his desk looking at the sun starting to rise.
He then felt breast being pushed up against his back as arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders. "You left the bed." Boa complained as she kissed him on his neck.
"Sorry, it was Jinbe." Luffy stated as he leaned back towards his wife.
"Hmm, I am sure the rest of the day can wait." Boa stated as she pulled him back towards the bed. "I need some more Luffy time."
Luffy relaxed as he turned to find her completely naked. Here he was with the woman that was the fantasy of many with her big breasts and curvy body. It was a shame they did not have all day, or he feared that he would not get out of bed at all. "Hmm, Luffy..." Boa moaned out as he grabbed her from her curvy but muscular butt. "YES!"
It was a couple of hours after Luffy had walked out onto the deck as his crew was training or getting supplies ready to leave. "Alright everyone. We will be setting sail in 30 minutes get everything packed." Luffy called out as he looked towards Nami. "It is time we bring you home."
"Do you mind if I join?" They heard someone call out from the docks.
"What took you so long?" Reiju asked with a smirk on her face.
"I had to talk to my dad." Sanji stated as he heard a stampede on the dock behind him.
"We will all miss you Sanji!" The chefs called out tearing up as they did so.
"Go on and fulfill our dream, beansprout." Zeff called out from the top deck as he avoided crying.
"ZEFF!" Sanji said as he started crying as knelt to them all. "Thank you all for everything."
"You are suppose to leave with your head high and without a tear, brat." Zeff said through his tears.
"Good Luck SANJI! Follow your dream!" The Baratie crew cried out.
"All aboard. We are setting sail for Cocoyasi Village. It is time for some cleaning." Luffy called out as he watched Bonney pull Nami into a hug as she started to tear up at his orders.