Silmeria - Thanks for being patient everyone. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer - I claim no rights to One Piece or Sentinel.
Chapter Twenty: One: The Guide with Taste: Part Three
The knife was small and sharp and glared in the sunlight despite the billowing smoke that surrounded them. Luffy narrowed his eyes at the sight of it, angered that Mihawk would mock them in such a disgraceful manner. To think that they could be defeated by a mere kitchen knife? What looked like a letter opener at best? What level of ability did this man think he was at to think that all he needed was a letter opener?
"What kind of fight do you think this will be...?" Zoro slid into a defensive stance wary of his opponent's actions and careful to block Luffy from Mihawks' curiosity. The last thing he needed was Mihawk's attention on Luffy.
Mihawk looked amused waving the small knife back and forth as he took in Zoro. "I'm no beast that goes all out when hunting a rabbit." Mihawk shrugged, not bothering to fight back a grin when Zoro let out a rather impressive snarl at the insult. "Unfortunately, I don't carry any smaller sharp instruments than this one."
Zoro didn't think twice about rushing his opponent. His wounded pride was too much for his mind to handle. He didn't expect the Alpha Sentinel to block his attack as if it was nothing. He didn't expect to be stopped by a such small knife or rather he didn't expect for his attack to be stopped so easily. He pushed against the knife grunting in his surprise when it didn't budge an inch.
"What did he do?" Zoro fought against his panic pushing forward against, snarling when he almost lost his footing. No one had ever been able to block that attack, but he had never fought against the likes of Dracule Mihawk either. Zoro didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to admit that there was no way that he and Mihawk's abilities were so far apart. Not when he trained so hard and for so long and sacrificed so much.
Zoro dashed back before charging again his mind wild and his heart beating ferociously against his chest. But, no matter how much he struck he never landed a hit. He knew that his anger was blinding him. His rage was going to force him to make a mistake that would be fatal, but he-he
This wasn't fair.
He didn't pursue swordsmanship all this time to be toyed with...!
"What ferocity your swordplay has..." Mihawk murmured in absolute wonder. "What do you bear on your shoulders? What do you desire once you've obtained power, weak one?"
Mihawk tossed him back as if he was swatting back a fly smirking when Zoro charged again giving him enough for an opening to charge forward and stab him with enough force to cause him to stumble back.
"Zoro-"
"It's fine, Luffy," Zoro called back, shivering as the blood soaked through his clothing. He raised his swords up into a defensive position-
"Kid! State your name."
"Rorona Zoro."
Mihawk's lips pulled into a thunderous frown. "I'll remember it, strong one. I haven't seen anyone like you in a while." He reached behind and pulled out a massive blade that forced Zoro to take a cautious step back. "As a swordsman's courtesy, I'll sink you using the world's strongest Black Blade."
"Zoro," Luffy called out urgently, internally horrified at the sight of that blade. That was the same blade that sunk Kreig's ship and if it could do such a thing then Zoro didn't stand a chance. If the Sentinel didn't make the move then he could be sliced clean in half and Luffy-
Luffy wouldn't stand for it, but he couldn't jump in either. Not when Zoro had something to prove. He knew his friend was doing this to protect him and divert Mihawk's gaze from him and Luffy appreciated it, he really did, but it wasn't worth his life.
Mihawk raced forward, eager to cut Zoro down, but he didn't expect Zoro to charge towards him with blade spinning-
"...Three-Sword Style Secret Move!"
Oh? What was this...?
"Three Thousand Worlds...!"
Mihawk huffed, immediately spotting an opening and slicing through Zoro's defenses. It was too bad. The Beta Sentinel certainly had potential. He turned and watched impassively as Zoro's swords shattered like glass, fighting back a wince as the Guide's screams pierced his ears. He turned on the heel of his boot and charged again, eyes widening when Zoro sheathed his blade and met him with open arms and a wild smile that caused Mihawk's heart to skip a beat.
"What are you doing?"
"Scars on the back are a swordsman shame," Zoro called out, eyes wild with pain and hurt that Mihawk once recalled that were his own.
"Admirable," Mihawk murmured, bringing his sword down and knocking Zoro on his back and into the water, his own nose twitching at the smell of blood, loss, and anguish, but what he didn't expect to feel was a sense of accomplishment? Accomplishment of what? Zoro lost and there was no accomplishment and no pride in such an action and yet, Mihawk wondered what, exactly, Zoro felt such pride about? Ah. He supposed it didn't really matter in the end, did it? His little obstacle was out of the way and that's what mattered, right?
Still, the young really shouldn't live so hastily.
"Zoro!" Luffy screamed, racing past Mihawk and into the water to pull him out and back to the destroyed deck. Thankfully, Zoro was still breathing. He wondered what was the purpose of it all? Why not deliver a killing blow? He didn't have time to think on it further when a shadow fell over them forcing Luffy's heart to skip a beat. The man wasn't finished?
"It's far too early for you to die." Mihawk bent down on one knee and gave Zoro's wet cheek a playful tap. "You need to learn about the world around you - increase your skills - if you ever wish to defeat me."
Luffy's lips thinned, tugging Zoro closer and covering him with his body. He knew, deep down, that Zoro knew that he didn't stand a chance against Mihawk, but he fought him regardless and it was all to protect Luffy. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat at the thought. Zoro was nothing but a stupid, selfless man and Luffy-Luffy-
Luffy would never forgive himself if Zoro died.
"You've defeated us," Luffy stated roughly. "You can leave us be-"
"I will wait." Mihawk interrupted. "No matter how many years it takes, I will wait for you to come and take this title from me." Mihawk tapped Zoro's cheek again, lips curling into a wicked smile when that one eye opened and shot him a small, hazed glare. "I'll accept no other, Roronoa Zoro."
Zoro's arm twitched before it reached up and ruffled Luffy's hair drawing a soft sob from the Guide's throat. This brave, stupid idiot.
"Zoro-"
"I-I'm sorry I worried you, Luffy, but I'll never let you accept nothing but the best swordsman and First Mate, right? I won't let you down. I-I give my word. I won't let myself be defeated again. I'll keep going on until I can defeat this bastard. Is that alright...? Monkey D. Luffy?"
Luffy let out a small choked-out laugh before burying his face into Zoro's blood-stained shirt. "Yes. That's more than alright, Rorona Zoro..!"
Luffy looked up startling when he realized that Mihawk was long gone leaving them to their defeat. No matter. Luffy turned to Usopp with a worried frown and urged the Sentinel over to him.
"I need you to take Zoro and find Nami."
Usopp blinked at the order. "But-"
"We don't have time to argue." Luffy lifted Zoro into his arms and pointed to the small ship that Usopp managed to commandeer. "Nami isn't too far out. I need you to take Zoro and find her and make her bring back the ship." Luffy shook his head when Usopp started to protest. "I already told you that we don't have time to argue. Zoro is too injured to fight and I can't leave these people to Kreig. If we don't stop him he's going to add this ship to his armada and we already have enough trouble in this area."
Luffy placed Zoro into Usopp's arms careful to not look at the blood that was staining his shirt and pants. His poor friend.
"I know that you don't believe Nami is a bad person and I don't believe it either but regardless of how we feel about her she still stole our ship and we need to find her. I need you to find her."
"Yeah." Usopp swallowed staring down at Zoro and all the blood that covered his front. Zoro wasn't a bad person and he didn't deserve what was going on with him and neither did Luffy or the chefs and people on the ship. Usopp swallowed at the invading thoughts. If Nami hadn't -
Usopp shook his head and pushed that thought to the back of his head. Now wasn't the time to be pointing fingers.
"I'll take care of him but what about you? You can't just go charging in and thinking that you can beat that pirate."
"Of course I can burst in there and defeat that pirate." Luffy grinned in the face of Usopp's worry. "I won't be alone. All of those brave cooks inside? I'll have no problem winning the day."
"Luffy -"
Luffy reached and placed a hand on Zoro's blood-stained cheek and memorized it and placed it in the back of his mind. He would cherish it and hold it close to his heart and made sure it would never happen again. He looked forward to the day Zoro defeated Mihawk.
"Go," Luffy ordered rising his feet with a small guarded smile before turning on his heel and heading back into the ship with his heart racing against his chest. He was being overconfident. He didn't know if he would be able to defeat Kreig but like Zoro, he had to try or he would regret it. He wasn't afraid of dying, but he was afraid of failing his friend and Ace.
He would never be able to look Ace in the eyes if he turned his back on these people.
Luffy had made it into the second level of the ship when he was pulled into a room and was face to face with Zeff who looked torn and bloody. He opened his mouth to express his relief when he spotted a tall figure slumped over in the corner.
"Zeff?" Luffy murmured his throat tight at the sight of the slumped-over figure. "What's going on? Are you alright?"
Zeff waved off Luffy's concern and waved a hand over to the slumped-over figure. "We managed to get out of Kreig's way but it was already too late for Sanji."
"Too late?" Luffy pressed taking a cautious step towards this Sanji, stopping when he noticed the dazed expression on Sanji's face. It was as if he was daydreaming, but Luffy recognized that look. He had spotted it on Nami's face when she was so into her maps that she lost track of time.
Sanji was zoned out.
"I didn't know what to do so I brought him here." Zeff gave Luffy a pleading look. "Can you help him? If we break him out of it then we might have a chance against Kreig."
"You think pretty highly of him," Luffy whispered bending down on this knees and cupping Sanji's cheeks frowning when he received no reaction. "I take it he keeps his shields down? This is bad."
"He kept them down so he could sense people's reactions to his cooking." Zeff huffed in exasperation. "He's my troublemaker. Can you help him? If you can then I'll be happier to erase that debt."
"That's a nice incentive," Luffy murmured tilting Sanji's head to the left and right. "I'll do what I can to help."
After all, the extra help against a manic pirate didn't hurt at all.