Chapter 29 - A night at home

-Zoro-

Huffing, he jumped around.

"Where the hell...? Kurai... gana?"

Breathing heavily, he stood there in some dark hall that looked much like an old castle. Slowly, Zoro lowered his swords, but not his guards, still waiting for an attack, an ambush, deliberately offering an opening to lure out his enemy.

"Come out," he grumbled softly. "What's the point of this stupid illusion? Like I'm getting distracted by that."

But even after several seconds, nothing happened. He couldn't feel anyone either, he was obviously alone in this room. Attentively, he walked over to one of the huge windows and looked out. What the hell was going on? Even the world outside looked exactly like Kuraigana. The huge lake, the dark forest behind it, almost hidden by the fog, looking exactly as it had been during the many early morning hours when Zoro had gone to bed late or got up early to run his laps.

Fuck!

He had been inattentive for a second and now he felt the tip of the sword between his shoulder blades. But still none of this made sense.

"And who in God's name do you want to be?" came from none other than Mihawk behind him.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Zoro grumbled, rolling his eye. "No idea how I ended up here. Oh, that was probably the one with the combat boots, maybe she has a similar devil power like Kuma or Torao. Apparently, she can teleport you and..."

"I care about neither your monologue nor how you got here, what I ask is that you..."

"Could you stop treating me like a..." He had wanted to turn around, but now he had a hair-thin cut on his neck, just below his chin, and Yoru was still right there. Mihawk stood in front of him in the darkness of the room, still in his sleeping clothes, but something about him was different. They hadn't seen each other for a few months, perhaps the longest time since the two years Zoro had spent on Kuraigana, but that was a bit of a harsh greeting even for him.

"Do you really not recognize me with your sharp eyes?" he said, shrugging his shoulders. "What's all this crap, Mihawk?"

But the other looked at him wide-eyed, almost glaring in the darkness.

"What? Another stroke?"

"That cannot be possible." In one fluid movement, Mihawk withdrew his sword. "And as often the case, you do not even seem to know. Some things apparently never change."

"What? What are you talking about?"

The other tilted his head slightly. "The reason I did not consider it could be you."

"And that would be?" Zoro asked suspiciously.

"Because you are running your laps outside at the moment, at an inhumanly early hour as usual."

"What?" Confused, he stared at the other, who was now a few feet away and flicked a light switch, a blasé smirk as the old lamps flickered.

"You seem to be from another time, Roronoa," Mihawk said naturally, tapping his left cheekbone. "I do not know this one yet."

And that's when Zoro understood why Mihawk seemed so different. He was still...

"And your aura..." Mihawk licked his lips and then shook his head, exhaling deeply. "So you did it. You have become the best swordsman in the world."

This was still the Mihawk, who had to hold back because his control was still so fragile. Zoro was really in the past, wasn't he?

"Yes," he agreed, but then he realized something. "Wait, am I even allowed to tell you that? And why am I here? We're in the middle of a fight and I..."

"Calm down, Roronoa." The Shichibukai raised both hands thoughtfully. "The effect of the reflect fruit is not permanent, usually only a few minutes."

"And of course, you know everything within just five seconds," he murmured, rolling his eyes.

"Of course, I do," Mihawk replied smugly, "and there is no need to worry for you. You are just a shadow in this time, and as long as you do not die here, you will reappear in your time in a few minutes, and I will have forgotten you were ever here until my timeline reaches the point you are coming from."

"How do you always know stuff?" Zoro murmured incredulously. "And what's the point of this power anyway?"

Mihawk smirked.

"Do not underestimate it, this power may seem like a cheap trick, but it has quite a high success rate."

"Oh, and how? I'm being thrown back in time for a few minutes, what's going to happen to me here?"

And there was that arrogant grin again, which Zoro really hadn't been able to stand back then.

"You are not just thrown back in time, Roronoa, but to a point where you could easily die, like through me. Besides, you would die if your past self saw you. Luckily you just went for a run, and you ended up here in the castle and not twenty meters further north."

His freaking luck, wasn't it? Zoro was sure that there had been other moments in his past that had been more dangerous. But it was also true that he would probably have been much better equipped with his current skills.

Smiling, he shrugged. "Okay, that means I shouldn't run into myself for the next twenty minutes and not into others' swords. So what do I do until then?"

Mihawk crossed his arms.

"You could tell me about the future. I am curious and since I am going to forget about it anyway, you do not have to pay attention to your words."

"But didn't you say you'll remember in my time?"

"Yes, but that is the problem of you and my future self. Not mine." Mihawk showed that grin again, and Zoro knew the feeling. He knew that Mihawk was planning something, recognized this conversation style immediately. Besides, Mihawk would never ignore his future, he was far too selfish for that. So it had to be about something that was even more important to him than his selfishness. But for once, it could be that Zoro knew more.

"Whatever," he played along. "So let's talk. You said, I'm here right now. How many more months until I leave Kuraigana?"

"You have been here for not even nine," the still Shichibukai replied with that smirk again, probably thinking he would win his game, but Zoro had become much better at chess than he had been back then. "But you look far more experienced than I expected. Do I have to wait that much longer for our fight?" He sounded playful, but already back then Zoro had been able to hear his deep longing. By now he understood, at least to some extent.

Zoro looked at him, now in the light it was quite obvious, this barely perceptible tension in the other's whole body, in every movement. How could Zoro not have seen it then? It was impossible to overlook how much the other had to control himself.

"Eleven, nine, three," he said simply.

"Excuse me?" Mihawk tilted his head slightly, and every muscle seemed tense. How could Zoro not have seen it? He'd always thought of Mihawk as incredibly elegant, but now his movements seemed almost painful to Zoro.

"To date, I've beaten you eleven times, you've beaten me nine times, and three times we've had to settle for a draw. The last time was a few weeks ago."

He could see those eyes widen again.

"But... But that would mean..." the other whispered incredulously.

"Yes," Zoro confirmed with a big grin, "you're back in control. It's been hard work – and you were non-stop complaining about it – but we've still got some fights ahead of us and I'm looking forward to them."

Zoro was stunned by the way Mihawk looked, stared at him. And then his gaze changed, softening as he understood the words, realizing that Zoro was telling the simple truth.

"You are always good for a surprise, Roronoa. I can hardly wait."

Sighing, Zoro looked out at the next morning. "You'll have to wait a little longer though. It took me forever to understand what it means to control a fight without leading it and I... I've kept you waiting for far longer than I wanted to."

He could hear the other moving closer.

"You do not seem that experienced yet. I think I can hold out for a few more years."

Zoro turned to the other. He looked so different, not at all like the Mihawk of his time, even though his appearance had hardly changed. But here and now, another person seemed to be standing in front of him.

"But you have truly changed, Roronoa. I hardly recognize you." Mihawk smiled. "No, that is not true. I do recognize you, but you are so much more; much more than I have always seen in you."

I could never blame you for becoming what I have always seen in you.

Zoro didn't know exactly why he had to think about that moment in the sick bay. But it made him smile. So much had happened since that day. He hadn't understood those words then — not that he'd thought about them — but now he understood. Now he could see it, in this Mihawk, everything he was not yet, and would become in Zoro's time.

"I think I am about to do something very stupid," Mihawk snapped him out of his thoughts. So that's when he began the next move of his convoluted strategy.

"Aha, and here I thought the oh-so-clever Dracule Mihawk was above doing something like that," Zoro remarked with a smirk, but unlike usual, the other didn't acknowledge his comment with an exasperated eye roll or an arrogant grin, but just looked at him. "Why would you do something stupid?"

Mihawk looked up at the ceiling. "Because I am going to forget."

"In my time, you will remember again."

"Yes, but by then I will have fought you, 23 times. I think I can take the risk."

Not understanding what Mihawk was getting at, Zoro frowned at him. "Whatever. Then just do something stupid."

Mihawk laughed slightly, shook his head, and rubbed the back of his neck. If Zoro didn't know better, he'd say he seemed embarrassed, even more unusual for him not to speak out even after several seconds.

"Maybe you should hurry up, who knows how long I'll be here."

"Always so impatient," the other sighed and walked towards him. He stopped two steps in front of Zoro, a strangely pinched expression on his face. "Please do not condemn me for what I am going to say."

And that's when Zoro knew what he was going to do, why Mihawk looked so uncertain and so pained. Had it been that difficult for him back then as well? Zoro didn't really know. He could barely recall the other's behavior back then, had been so troubled with himself and his own problems at that time, but he believed that Mihawk had suffered similarly, maybe even more, maybe not so much, had already gotten used to it, had already accepted it.

"Roronoa, I love you."

...

"I know."

Those eyes, squinted in pain, widened.

"You... You know...?"

"Yes, of course. And as often as you tell me, I guess you're assuming I got worse memory than a fly."

A broken smile crossed Mihawk's face.

"Please... Please do not make fun of me. It is bad enough as it is."

Zoro shrugged. "I don't and I don't know what the problem is. As far as I know, it's relatively normal for people in a relationship to have feelings like that for each other."

"Wha... What are you saying? Is this some stupid joke?"

"It's not," Zoro replied calmly, and this time it was early morning, not the darkness of the night, and he could see exactly how the other's expression was changing. "In my time, you and I are in... a relationship. I didn't give a damn, but you wanted a title, companion, the most ridiculous title I've ever heard."

Mihawk still looked at him in disbelief.

"But even if titles aren't nearly as important to me as they are to you, I won't give this one away either."

Grinning, he watched as Mihawk processed his words, all these different expressions, a soft shake of the head, bit his lower lip, and at the end a cautious smile.

"Is that... Is all this true?" His keen eyes were unusually glazed. "Is this my life in a few years?"

Zoro nodded. "Yes, and I mean, it's been a few days since our last chat, but I'm pretty sure you're quite satisfied with the way it is."

Shaking his head, Mihawk laughed softly, looked away, rubbed the back of his neck, slid his hand over his mouth and cheek. "It all sounds too perfect to be true."

"Don't worry, it's not perfect," Zoro grinned, and at Mihawk's unimpressed look he probably dropped the real bombshell of this conversation. "Luffy calls you Hawk-guy and Shanks has a recording where you admit you're friends."

Silent horror crept over the older man's face.

"He... has... Why should I say such a nonsensical thing? I cannot stand him."

Zoro shrugged. "I don't know exactly, but I think it has something to do with your training together."

"Our what?"

"Well, you had to regain your control somehow. And at least he had a lot of fun. This bad? Got another stroke?"

"Just keep making fun of me," the other complained. "What disastrous prophecies, I do not want to believe it to be true."

"Are you sure?"

Mihawk met his gaze, and the horrified bewilderment softened as he smiled.

"Well, maybe it is worth the price after all."

Zoro made no reply when Mihawk took another step towards him.

"Your time here will soon be over." They only looked at each other. "Tell me, if we are truly partners, may I kiss you?"

"No," Zoro replied coolly, and continued speaking as Mihawk turned even paler than he already was. "You know, my partner is a jealous bastard, and I really don't want to argue with him about whether a kiss with his past self is cheating or not."

"But..."

"Besides," Zoro said, taking a quick look at Mihawk from top to bottom, "you're not the man I love, not yet."

The other's indignation faded, and he looked at Zoro intently, almost curiously, as he seemed to ponder the words.

"But you will love me?" he asked, and Zoro nodded.

"Give me some more time. I'll be strong enough, Mihawk, I am strong enough." He could see how Mihawk trembled at these words. "You know, I'm realizing right now that I do miss Kuraigana somewhat, but I really don't miss your shitty mask. I'm glad you don't have to pretend all the time in my time."

After a long breath, Mihawk nodded. "I can hardly..."

"Hey Zoro! Where the hell have you been?!"

He stumbled to the side. Just a moment ago he had been on Kuraigana, in front of Mihawk, now he was standing on the slightly swaying Sunny in the grass in front of the mainmast and Nami was stalking towards him.

"We have been attacked. Didn't you notice? Don't tell me, you slept in the lookout until now?"

Confused, he looked around. He had known what had happened, and Mihawk had warned him what was going to happen, but still he was a little surprised.

"Zoro? Everything okay, you seem...?"

"Is everyone safe?" he asked, his senses strangely confused, like after getting some of Chopper's medication. "Did you get rid of them? Who was that?"

"Yes," Nami replied, not quite so annoying anymore, more alert. "They were pirates, not very strong, but I was worried. Normally, you never miss a fight."

"But everyone else is there?"

"Like... why? Luffy wasn't..."

"Wow, that was exciting!" Grinning broadly, Luffy suddenly appeared just a few steps away from Zoro and Nami, the hem of his vest was charring quietly, his clothes and his face were dirty.

"Luffy, where are you coming from all of a sudden?" Nami escaped, confused.

But Luffy met Zoro's gaze only briefly and grinned even more. "Had a good trip?"

Zoro grinned. "I believe better than yours."

"Ah, I wouldn't be so sure."

"Luffy, what the hell are you talking about?"

At that moment, Zoro's trouser pocket called out, or more precisely, his small, white transponder snail. So he left it to Luffy to initiate the worried Nami and climbed back into the lookout where he had been a few minutes ago.

Once at the top, he finally answered, and the little transponder snail seemed relieved.

After two seconds, the familiar voice of his companion filled the room: "Can you speak freely?"

"Yes," he said, continuing to speak when Mihawk was already about to raise his voice. "Where are you now?"

Obviously surprised to be interrupted, the other paused before replying, "Calm Belt, I did tell you..."

"When will you be close again?" He looked out at the wide sea, a fire in his body that he had never known before. "I want to fight you."