Hey everybody,

I'm very sorry, didn't plan to be absent for so long (you know... real life and all that stuff), and because I'm in a several month long preperation for a big exam it might happen again (sorry in advance), but for now here is the next chapter, hope you will enjoy it ;-)

Until next time^^

The Fountain of Youth – Part 2

-Zoro-

With his arms crossed, he looked at the sky. It had stopped raining as soon as they had left the bath, but the night was still dark, the heavy clouds hardly letting any light through.

The day had gone by with a strange feeling in his stomach. He didn't really want to worry about it, but he couldn't completely ignore what had happened either. He hoped that Robin was right, that Mihawk's... condition was only temporary, otherwise it would probably get really annoying. She'd thought it would be better to play along and not unnecessarily confuse Mihawk with the fact that the world was already over thirty years ahead of him, and while Zoro didn't like it, he followed her advice and hoped it was the right thing to do.

But Robin had been pretty sure, and Zoro trusted her assessment. He could have sworn that the hollow, sliced skull had been filled with rainwater, but when they'd gone back to see after Mihawk's transformation, the rain had simply run out of the skull's empty eye sockets, so no water could refill. Zoro didn't want to think too much about that either, but he really wasn't a fan of physical transformations brought about by supernatural circumstances.

"And where do you think you're going?"

The tip of Kitetsu rested below Mihawk's chin. He was standing in the doorway of the hospital room.

"Are you a watchdog, or why are you outside all night?" he said condescendingly. "I do hope I may go to the restroom."

Zoro didn't even look up at him.

"That's right, I'm keeping watch," he said, watching the sea in the darkness. "And unlike some crewmembers, I don't get careless just because the stranger on board is a child."

He wasn't sure yet. He knew that Mihawk must have been different as a child, not quite as harsh and bitter as he was as an adult, but he had certainly been just as manipulative, condescending, and cunning. Zoro didn't know if his blossoming during dinner had been real or just fake. But no matter if he was an adult or still a child, Zoro wouldn't let Mihawk do anything stupid, such as attacking his crewmates.

"You're not the brightest, are you?" the other judged harshly, but Zoro could hear in his voice that he wasn't quite as unimpressed by the blade on his neck as he pretended to be. "It's obvious that I need your help, and most of you are superior to me in terms of strength. It would be foolish to confirm the distrust of some of you by rash actions and thereby jeopardize my safety."

It didn't escape Zoro's notice, he knew Mihawk too well for that. He said in terms of strength, he knew that some on board were stronger than him, but he clearly did not say that he was generally inferior. Like the adult, the kid was well aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. So maybe Zoro should set the rules right away.

"You're pretty confident, aren't you?" He looked up at Mihawk, who could not hide his feelings as well as he would like. "Don't underestimate us, Mini-Dracule. Not all pirates are stupid brawlers, and you're not your father or sister. So it would be wise to not play any stupid games, or you'll just make it harder for yourself."

Mihawk swallowed, but then grinned, not quite as Zoro knew it, but better than that feigned confidence. "But you're one of those stupid brawlers, aren't you?"

Zoro returned his grin. "And I'm not the one you should be wary of either. I openly show my distrust and tell you to your face what I think of you and what I know about you. The smarter ones say less but know more. So if I'm going to keep you here now, I'm actually protecting you from them, not the other way around."

For a moment the other looked at him and then he laughed, in that childish voice, obviously taken aback.

"And why would you want to help me? You say yourself that you distrust me."

"Well, maybe I just have a soft spot for ill-mannered brats who sail alone in the open sea," he replied, putting his sword away. "You're a Dracule, so I know what you're capable of, but you're also a sheltered kid who's suddenly stranded on a pirate ship. You've probably never been so far away from home and want to get back as soon as possible."

But to his surprise, he received no answer, and when he looked up, Mihawk averted his gaze, stared intently at the sea, avoided him.

"Or not?" Zoro asked.

"I don't know," the boy grumbled then, crossing his arms, obviously defensively. "I don't think anyone misses me. Otherwise, they would have noticed long ago that I have disappeared and would have followed me."

"The sea is big, how would they know where to look?"

But Zoro recognized the tone immediately. He might be a child now, with a child's voice, with a child's face, but that tone hadn't changed one bit.

"I don't think my father is looking for me." It was not a conjecture, but resigned acceptance. "He doesn't like me."

"No wonder, given that character." Oops, that had been a bit harsh, as a child he was much softer than Zoro was used to. "But you don't just have your father. What about your mother? And I've heard your sister is obsessed with you. Besides, you certainly have... maybe friends, right?"

Now the other looked at him coolly again.

"You're not very good at cheering someone up, do you know that, pirate?"

"My name is Zoro."

"Sure? Your crew's chef certainly calls you something else."

"Yes, and he takes a few punches for that on a regular basis. I'm not sure you should risk that too."

"Well, they can't be that strong if the cook doesn't let that stop him."

"You're welcome to give it a try."

The corners of the other's mouth twitched. "You're pretty quick-witted, for a pirate."

Zoro grinned, as a boy Mihawk might have been similarly cunning, but he was much quicker to say what he thought, nowhere near as suspicious as Zoro knew him.

"Well, what else can you do? I'm not as smart as you or others in my crew, so I have to know how to help myself with other means."

"You think I'm smarter than you?" Oh, surely he'd liked that. "I'm still a child."

"So what? What does age have to do with it? Chopper is also much younger than me and much smarter – he's a freaking doctor, I can't even pronounce the words and he actually knows what they mean – and you're a kid from a good family. Every swordfighter knows that the Dracules all have clever little brains, and you've certainly read more books in your life than I have, your parents will have taken care of that."

"You know a lot about my family."

"I'm a swordsman, what did you expect?" he replied simply, putting a hand on his swords. He deliberately didn't carry Josei with him, wanted to avoid this confusion.

"Then why have I never heard of you?" said Mihawk. "You seem strong. Why hasn't my father invited you to fight my sister yet?"

"Oh dear, he invites people?" Zoro hadn't known that. "Why that? Sounds weird."

Now the kid showed a boastful grin.

"Well, because my sister is so good," he explained with pride. "Hardly anyone dares to challenge her anymore, and that's why my father invites the best so that my sister can train. But no one can hold a candle to her! She's the best!"

Zoro looked up at the sea again.

"I'd really like to fight her," he admitted quietly. "The more I hear about her, the more curious I become. But I'm sure I'd beat her."

"Never!" Mihawk almost roared, grinning even wider. "I've never heard of you and you think you can defeat my sister?"

"I'm from the East Blue," Zoro remarked, "maybe that's why you don't know me."

"Oh, from the weakest sea." Those piercing eyes looked at him curiously, an almost familiar feeling. "And you really think you can keep up with my sister?"

"Do you want to check for yourself?" grinned Zoro.

"Me?"

"Well, you're a swordsman, aren't you?"

The other averted his gaze again. "I'm still a child."

"So what? One does not exclude the other."

"Why would you even want that? I can't keep up with my sister, and if you think you can beat her, I'd just be a waste of time for you."

"And what do you care what I'm wasting my time on?"

All of a sudden, those eyes stared at him, but Zoro enjoyed the surprise.

"I don't have any particular preferences when it comes to my opponents. The only thing that matters to me is that they are serious. But I'm curious what a Dracule can do at your age. So, why not?"

"You want... You want to fight me?"

"Yes."

"But... I'm not my sister, I'm just a child."

"Obviously." Zoro leaned forward and rested his arm on his knee so he could look up at Mihawk better. "But aren't you curious too, Mini-Dracule? To see how strong you really are? To see how to fight in real life? When there's more at stake? It's much more exciting than these boring training fights or these dull workouts."

Still the other looked at him with such big eyes, they almost shone in the darkness of the night. Then they were distracted by footsteps. Robin came along, showing a subtle smile.

"Well, you two. What are you doing out here at this time? It's the middle of the night."

"Oh, I was just keeping watch." Ponderously, Zoro stood up. "And our guest here just wanted to go to the bathroom, right?"

For a moment he glanced down at Mihawk, who was still looking at him with those childlike, huge eyes, and then nodded.

"Oh, then I don't want to bother you any further. I just wanted to take over night watch." Zoro met her gaze, understood.

"Good, then I'll get some rest. Good night." He waved briefly and then decided to actually do that. He didn't know exactly what Robin was up to, but it would be very funny to see little Mihawk biting off more than he can chew while trying to trick her.

-Sanji-

He didn't know exactly what had happened, but something must have happened during the night, because the boy who was sitting at breakfast had little in common with what Sanji had seen yesterday. He didn't look like the Hawk Eyes they all knew.

He was giggling furtively with Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper. They had slipped salt into Zoro's coffee, and he didn't even seem to notice. At that moment, Hawk Eyes looked like an ordinary, spoiled kid, and now, without that snooty look or condescending posturing, he almost seemed... like a nice kid. Not at all like his clone had looked. Not at all like he always looked as an adult. This laughter was genuine, the behavior was not feigned.

While the Marimo poured his coffee down his throat, Jinbei admonished the others not to play pranks, but he laughed without taking himself seriously.

"Okay," Zoro grumbled, rising heavily, "how about it, Mini-Dracule? Are you ready?"

"What?" he stared at him with wide eyes. "You were serious?"

Zoro grinned, that ugly grin whenever he'd spotted an interesting opponent. "Of course, I told you so. Besides, I'd go training now anyway."

"But I don't even have a sword?"

What?

Sanji was confused, and he wasn't the only one.

"What's this about?" Nami asked, equally suspicious. On Robin's advice, they had decided to continue playing this act for the time being, hoping that Hawk Eyes would simply transform back in a few days. But especially with their two idiots – namely Zoro and Luffy – there was always the danger that they would let something slip.

"No problem, you can have one of mine," the Marimo replied, completely ignoring Nami's question.

"Zoro," she hissed at the same time. "You can't..."

"Don't get all upset, will you? It's just a little practice fight."

"No, Zoro! He's still a..."

"He's a Dracule, Nami, he's a swordsman, and swordsmen fight. But don't worry, I do know what I'm doing." With that, he simply turned and strode to the door. "But she's right, Mini-Dracule. You're still a kid and it wouldn't be a shame if you didn't want to fight me."

"Of course I do!" Hawk Eyes1/3 had jumped up, sounding so urgent and energetic that Sanji didn't recognize him at all. "Wait! I'll come with you!"

As he walked by, he quickly tilted his head in Sanji's direction: "Thank you for the food!", then he hurried through the door, which Zoro held open for him before he also went through and closed it behind him.

"What is he doing?" Nami growled desperately, tearing at her hair. "Man, this guy is really killing me. What is he thinking?"

"Oh, I think that should be obvious," Robin remarked with a faint smirk. "He sees a swordsman he hasn't fought yet and wants to fight him, it's as simple as that."

"Yes," Sanji murmured thoughtfully, bringing more coffee to the table, "I guess this sword freak really isn't thinking much further than his next fight."

"But he's already beaten the adult, what does he want now with the ankle-biter? Isn't it clear that he can't defeat him?" Franky remarked.

"I don't think he's looking for a real fight," Usopp interjected thoughtfully. "I guess he's just curious about how strong Hawk Eyes is as a child."

"Unbelievable," Nami grumbled, shaking her head, reaching for the coffee pot. "He is and will always be a sword freak."

"But that's exactly what enables him to connect with our young Dracule," Jinbei interjected with a laugh. "I was worried about how we were going to get through the next few days when we always had to reckon with a knife in our backs, but it seems like the worry was unnecessary. Who knows, maybe it's going to be fun."

"Jinbei has just volunteered to babysit, noted," Nami said dryly. "So I'm counting on you to make sure those two sword-wielding children don't do any harm."

"Well, so... I..."

"Thank you, Jinbei." Oh, what a beautiful smile Nami had.

But while Franky, Luffy, and Brook laughed at their helmsman's shocked face, Sanji exchanged a glance with Usopp before he peeked out of the window, but couldn't really see anything.

He agreed with Nami. The situation was more annoying than funny, at best. Sanji doubted they would be able to keep up with this charade for several days. After all, even as an ankle-biter, Hawk Eyes was smarter than half of the crewmembers.

But maybe he was just worrying unnecessarily. The next two days passed rather uneventfully, and Robin's hunch seemed to be confirmed. Every morning she emptied a watering can over the torture stake, and every day one more skull let the water flow through. Therefore, there was great hope that the curse would be lifted as soon as water flowed through the lowest skull as well. They had to hold out for another three days. Three days in which they had to hide the newspapers and pay attention to their choice of words, in other words: babysit.

Although, the truth was that the Marimo had taken on this part, and Sanji didn't know if it was because this kid was none other than Hawk Eyes himself, but somehow... apparently, Zoro was quite good with children. But that wasn't the only surprising thing, the other thing was how much he talked. Even now, his voice wafted across the deck, calm but determined, and there was a reason for that. Sanji didn't know exactly how it had happened or why Zoro was doing it, but he was teaching the very person who had once taught him in the first place. But he also knew that Little Hawk Eyes would most likely be his old self again in three days. So why did he do that? Just to kill time somehow? To distract Hawk Eyes?

Sanji didn't really get it, but whatever it was, it was a good thing, after all, that's how he kept the spoiled kid busy throughout the day. And even though the kid often complained and whined a lot, he went on all the time and did what Zoro told him.

"Crazy, isn't it?" He looked up, enjoying his cigarette after dinner, while Franky and Usopp did the dishes like he ordered. Nami approached him at the railing at the stern of the ship. "If it wasn't for the coffin boat, you might as well forget that..." She didn't say anything, just shook her head. "Didn't think the days would be so quiet."

With a soft sigh, Sanji nodded and took another drag, looking at the sun shining through the veiled clouds. After the fateful storm, there was now almost no wind, but Nami suspected that the next storm would not be long in coming, maybe a few days, and then the wind would come. The sun was just above the horizon now, and yet these two maniacs were still training like they had been all day. They weren't used to anything else from their Marimo, but Sanji really wouldn't have expected Hawk Eyes to be so diligent.

"Well, no matter what age, they are and will always be sword freaks. Even if I really don't understand why the Marimo thinks he has to train him. Not like it would do him any good, would it? In three days, the whole thing will be over one way or another."

Nami shrugged.

"Who knows. I think Robin is right and that he really doesn't think much about it. He probably just enjoys it. At first I was really worried because he was so harsh, but now the two of them seem to get along really well, and when they're not training, they're talking all the time about some swordsmen or whatever."

"I'm telling you, freaks," Sanji said roughly, looking out to the sea.

"I talked to Zoro last night," Nami said.

"Huh?" He looked over at her. "Do you want to talk about different swords as well now?"

"Oh!" She slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Just a little check."

"Huh?" he said again, and she rolled her eyes.

"Man, sometimes you're just as stupid as Luffy and Zoro, you know? Sanji, that innocent fledgling over there is actually Zoro's partner." – "Fledgling?" he asked amusedly, which she acknowledged with a roll of her eyes – "Stay serious. Such a situation would put some kind of strain on anyone, even an idiot like Zoro. But usually, if at all, he only talks about stuff like that with a Hawk Eyes and, well, he said that if we wanted to know something, we should ask."

"And what did he say?" he asked after a moment.

But Nami didn't answer, she looked at the sea.

"Should we be worried?" Sanji asked.

"Not yet," she replied. "I think as long as Hawk Eyes turns back at the end, it's going to be fine, but... I think it's a burden on Zoro to have to lie to him. He would probably be able to handle the situation better if he could just be honest."

"I get that," Sanji said with a gentle sigh, "but honestly, would he even believe the truth? It would blow up his mind, and he probably wouldn't trust us anymore after that. It's tough, but I guess we'll have to keep up this stupid act a little longer."

"Mhm," she agreed wordlessly.

"But thank you."

Now she looked at him in surprise.

"Well, if I had asked him something like that, it would have ended in another argument, or he would've denied everything. It's good to know that at least he'll confide in you if you don't give him any other choice." He couldn't help but smile. "Also, I was so annoyed by the whole thing that I actually didn't think about how much it must be weighing on him."

Now Nami smiled too, and she shook her head. "Well, sometimes you're just as stubborn as he is."

He couldn't even argue with her.

"But did you notice," she then remarked. "I don't know if it's because of our fledgling, but Zoro talks, so much, and somehow, I like that."

"Oh, I really don't know if this crew can stand another chatterbox," he said jokingly, before shaking his head slightly. "Honestly, he seems fine. Maybe that's why I didn't think about it. Who knows, maybe our mosshead will be a really good teacher one day. If he can handle such a spoiled kid..."

"Well, he can handle the ass adult version."

"True."

They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed. Who knew what this whole thing was for, after all, the torture stake had been a gift.

-Zoro-

"Okay, one more time and that's it for today."

"You just said that," whined the other.

"Yes, but then you lost your form and didn't really put effort in it. Do it right again one more time and we'll be done."

It was strange, but it was also kind of fun. Zoro had known that Mihawk disliked repetitions and dry workouts, so he hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Actually, he had only been curious about how good Mihawk had been as a kid. At that age, Zoro had been losing to Kuina on a regular basis, Mihawk on the other hand had already achieved considerable coating and his abilities were about equally developed in all areas. He was really a stark opposite of Zoro, who, at that time, had mainly focused on physical strength and solid execution and had rather neglected everything else.

The fight had also been fun, and Zoro was impressed by how far Mihawk had come, especially because he knew how the other had trained – or not trained – as a child, but much more impressive was that look. He was used to Mihawk observing a lot and capturing even more, but as an adult he did so rather inconspicuously. But the way those childlike eyes followed his every move, his breathing, his gaze, was almost creepy.

One fight had turned into a second, and a third, and a fourth. At some point in between, Zoro had started correcting him, as they always did with each other during practice fights – during real fights it had to wait until afterwards, besides, everyone wanted to win – and just like as an adult, this Mihawk reacted to every criticism within the blink of an eye. It was really fun, within a few fights he had already gotten much better and Zoro had absolutely not understood what his father had said at the time; there could be no easier student than Mihawk.

Zoro had thought so until he had declared that he wanted to return to the usual training session and Mihawk had shown no interest at all in taking part. Zoro shouldn't really care, he didn't really care, but somehow Dracule Senior's words in the back of his mind had awakened his ambition, as if he had something to prove to someone. Zoro knew very well that he had no experience as a teacher at all, that he wasn't really fit for it, and that Mihawk would probably turn back in a few days anyway. And yet, somehow, Zoro didn't want to bow to those words.

So he had decided that he would only fight the kid in his care if he was also training, and it had been hard work and an incredibly exhausting discussion, but since dinner Mihawk had been more or less committed to doing the basic exercises that every swordsman must have internalized. They were already close to perfect, but only if Mihawk wanted to, otherwise they quickly became sloppy, so Zoro forced him to want to make them good.

And inwardly, this feeling rose in him. How good would Mihawk be if his sister hadn't died? What if he had had someone to push his ambition forward? Who would have endured his laziness and arrogance? Because of this talent, because of everything that lay beneath.

Maybe it wasn't a teacher's job, Zoro didn't know, but he knew that Mihawk had endured a lot with Zoro, that Master Koshiro had endured a lot with Zoro, and that's why he was standing here now, wondering whether not every student deserved this.

"Urgh! You're a real slave driver!" Mihawk complained, dropping to the floor. "At least bring me some water."

"Then I'd be your slave," Zoro remarked dryly. "Besides, you yourself decided to join me. I'm not forcing you to exercise."

"You said you wouldn't fight me anymore if I didn't go along with this nonsense."

"This nonsense you're talking about is ancient wisdom that generations of swordsmen have trained."

"So what? They are made to bring some glitter to the average. I don't need that kind of shenanigans. All I need is a fight."

For a kid he spoke like an old man, but Zoro knew the grown-up Mihawk, compared to this stubbornness, the boy in front of him was almost buttery soft.

"And yet you did the exercise to the end."

The glaring hawk eyes stared at him.

"Yes! But just because you..."

"Doesn't matter," he interrupted the other directly with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter what your motive is, it was your decision to join this training, so stand by it like a real swordsman, and don't whine like a spoiled brat." Then he grinned wickedly. "Oh, my mistake, I forgot, you are a spoiled brat."

He held out a hand to the boy.

"Come on, get up, get some water, and then let's head to the..." Huh, it was really weird.

Mihawk examined his hand for a moment with his eyebrows raised in condescension, then rose without looking at Zoro.

"You've never taught anyone before, have you?"

"And how would you know?" Zoro asked, ignoring the usual arrogance, and rolling his eye.

"Well, apart from your limited vocabulary, you're far too good-natured," Mihawk said with a blasé undertone. "Teachers are tough, uncompromising, and unyielding, their word is law and the student must obey. You, on the other hand, grin half the time and have benevolently persuaded me to train. You're just way too nice."

For a moment, Zoro watched him straighten his clothes, clothes borrowed from Chopper. Just like the adult version, the kid started chatting after some physical exercise, but unlike the adult version, he also became a little less suspicious, a little more honest in his words.

"Well, no one has ever told me that," Zoro laughed softly as they walked towards the bathroom. "I'm generally considered more serious and threatening."

"But you only seem like that at first glance," the kid replied brazenly, but then his tone changed. "It's the same with my mother. I envy that. When you can keep people at a distance just by looking at them."

The irony of these words.

"Well, surely you can do that too," Zoro remarked, thinking of the present.

"Not at all!" the boy objected loudly as they walked through the library, now there was nothing left of his caution. "No one respects a child, let alone fears. I can't wait to grow up and no longer be dependent on outside help, not to be constantly told what to do and what not to do. Then I'll be an admiral and have my own fleet beneath me and..." He fell silent, had probably not wanted to babble that much.

"Admiral, huh?" Zoro asked, grabbing the ladder to the bathroom. "Then you'll want to hunt pirates like me, won't you?"

"Of course!" the kid jumped right in. "Pirates break the law and must be punished. They're all evil! They're plunder, murder, and destroy. My father says..." He fell silent again, and when Zoro looked down, he encountered a strange expression on his face that he actually didn't know yet. "Tell me, Zoro, are you evil?"

"Didn't you just give yourself the answer? You said all pirates are evil. We are pirates."

"Yes, but...!"

Zoro turned and climbed the steps. "Now come on, the others want to go to the bathroom later. We should hurry."

"Zoro!" He really didn't like it. "Answer me!"

"As you know, I don't respond well to such a commanding tone. We are pirates. I don't care if we're the bad guys because of that, others can decide about that. We're just going our own way."

Upstairs, in the anteroom of the bathroom, he began to undress and threw his things in the basket.

"Come on, hurry up."

The other climbed the ladder with a dull thud.

"I don't understand your words," he said thoughtfully. "Why do you let others decide whether you are good or bad?"

Zoro laughed softly. "People think what they want about you anyway. But I don't see why I should make my path dependent on the opinion of others. I do what I think is right, and if others hate me for it, so be it."

Shrugging his shoulders, he continued to undress. Mihawk was silent for a long time before he finally began to undress as well. On the first evening it had been very difficult, he had been quite upset about sharing a bath with others, by now he had either accepted it or was distracted by the topic.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yes."

"Many?"

"Yes."

"Would you do it again?"

"Yes."

The other was silent. Zoro threw a towel around his waist and went to the bathroom. Mihawk followed shortly after, looking at him thoughtfully.

"My sister always says that she wants to win every fight, but that she never wants to kill anyone," he said then, and as often the case, Zoro had no idea in which direction this conversation would develop. "If I'm honest, to me that sounds... naïve. I don't think you can fight a lifetime of life and death without killing. We are swordsmen, we want to fight with the sword, and regardless of the purpose, every sword is capable of killing. But does that mean that if I want to fight, I want to kill someone? Doesn't that make me evil? My father is a Marine and has killed pirates, isn't he evil too? Aren't they...?"

"And that's why I don't worry about this crap," Zoro grumbled, scrubbing his hair foamy. "I don't know when you're good or bad, or if your sister's view is naïve. I fight because I like to fight, and the stake of any fight is a life, your own or someone else's."

Then he washed his hair, and it wasn't until he stood up that he noticed that Mihawk was staring at him with those huge, childlike eyes.

"Something wrong?"

After another second, the other shook his head and then quickly turned on the water, forgetting all about soap and shampoo. Shrugging his shoulders, Zoro walked over to the bathtub and sank into the hot water.

"Somehow... you're very different from what I imagined pirates to be."

"Oh?" Zoro grinned and heard the other get into the water as well, his eyes closed, leaning back.

"Yes, I mean, your captain is a complete idiot, and no one here seems to really take him seriously, and you all are..."

"What are we?"

"Well, nice."

Zoro looked up and met that open, curious look.

"Sure, you argue quite a bit and most of you are rather plain and not very strong, but..." He lowered his eyes. "Why are you training me? Why do you give me food and clothes? Why did you bring me on board? Can you really be evil or am I just falling for your game and you're using me to blackmail my parents?"

Zoro sighed.

"I think you're thinking too much," he said casually. "No matter what I tell you, no one can assure you 100% that it's the truth. So I guess you have no choice but to trust your gut."

"My gut?" the other repeated critically. "That's really stupid."

"Then don't." Zoro shrugged. "Then just stick to the facts or whatever you use to make a decision."

With these words, they fell silent, and Zoro enjoyed the warm water.

"Can I ask you something?"

He raised an eyebrow without opening his eye.

"Where did you get this scar?"

Now he looked up and sat up straighter.

"This one?" he said, stroking his left collarbone. Mihawk nodded.

Zoro lowered his gaze to his chest, examining the line of uneven skin as it sank into the water.

"It's from my first fight against the former best swordsman in the world."

"Wow!"

"Yes, impressive, isn't it? But the fight really wasn't. I was pretty naïve back then."

"Then you must have been young, right? So that was before my sister became the best, wasn't it?"

Zoro didn't meet that look. "Yes, I was quite young at the time."

"Did my sister fight him too? Did she defeat him? What was his name?"

Zoro looked at him.

"I don't think you know him, you're too young. But yes, your sister fought him and from his stories I conclude that she also defeated him."

Mihawk swallowed, but curiosity was written all over his face.

"You... You said your first fight against him, and that he told you about my sister. Have you... often fought."

"A couple of times," Zoro said, grinning at this strange conversation, and rubbing the back of his neck, "and after fighting, he always gets chatty."

"And... And have you ever defeated him?"

"Yes." He grinned. "A couple of times, but he's still keeping up well and if I'm not careful, he just overcomes me. No wonder, he's a genius strategist and he... he knows my weaknesses pretty well."

"You like to fight him, don't you?"

Zoro paused. He had been inattentive, had made himself vulnerable. "Why do you think that?"

"Well, because you've already fought him and you don't kill him, even if you win. That means you want to fight him more often, doesn't it?"

He looked at his hands and nodded, not knowing how to avoid this conversation... and if he even wanted to. "Yes, if I can, I want to fight him and defeat him many more times. Fighting him... Nothing can compete with that."

"Hm," the other said, and it almost sounded like a laugh. "I understand that. Training is boring, but fighting my sister... I could do that all day."

"Mhm," Zoro agreed quietly. It would be easy to come out with the truth now, he should do it.

"Is something wrong, Zoro?" He looked up in surprise, Mihawk looked at him almost worriedly. "You said if you can, and somehow... You don't look as stupid as usual. Did he die?"

Ah...

"No, he's still alive."

"Then, what...?"

"He... he doesn't remember me," Zoro explained calmly.

"Oh, and why is that?" asked Mihawk naïvely.

"I don't really know, to be honest."

"Is he old?"

Zoro shrugged suspiciously. "Yes, he is, but why...?"

"My governess says that sometimes old people start to forget things, where they put their glasses, what day it is, and sometimes... names and faces, even themselves. Perhaps... Maybe that's what is happening with him."

Zoro took a deep breath.

"Maybe, at least... At least he's not as I knew him."

"I'm sorry. He seems to be very important to you."

"Yes, he is," Zoro sighed before standing up, shaking his head. "But that's how it is. Whether he remembers or not, I hope to be able to fight him again, someday."

He stepped out of the water ponderously, not liking this conversation at all.

"I think I understand you, Zoro."

Oh, really?

"If my... If Sharak forgot me... She would still be the best swordswoman in the world and fighting would still be fun, but... but... not only is she the best swordswoman in the world, but she's also my sister." He could hear the other rise as well. "It must hurt to be forgotten, right? It must be horrible."

Oh, so he could be like that, as naïve and childlike as he was right now, as cheerful and empathetic as he was right now, but he still understood too well.

"No." Zoro smiled at the boy. "Whether he remembers me and our fights or not, it doesn't change my memories. Yes, it hurts, but I'm grateful that he's alive, that I've been able to fight him, that I've been able to get to know him, and this gratitude outweighs that."

He had reached the end of the bathroom and stopped in the doorway.

"We should hurry up. The others will want to take a bath too."

"Can I ask you something else?"

Mihawk had followed him into the adjoining room. Suspiciously, Zoro looked down at him as he grabbed his towel. This questioning was dangerous.

"You said that in every fight you have to be willing to offer your life as a stake, your own or someone else's, and that scar is from your first fight, when you were young and naïve, and the fight was anything but good."

Zoro just nodded, not knowing what Mihawk was getting at.

"But... Then why did he spare you when you were young and naïve?"

Zoro opened his mouth, but didn't say anything, just looked at those childish hawk eyes. Then he tilted his head slightly and looked at his towel.

"I don't know. I... I never asked."