The island was weirdly quiet now that it was just Mihawk and the kids. The RH Pirates had left with the 2 women and Rayleigh had slipped out to check on a possible lead that Shakky had found for Chopper. It had actually taken Mihawk a couple hours to realize that he was the lone adult and so stuck with baby sitting.
"Now come on Roronoa. It's not enough to just use brute strength. Try again." Mihawk directed as he watched Zoro face 4 humandrills.
"They don't need anything fancy. I can take them out easily." Zoro whined back and Mihawk prayed for patience.
"Yes, you're starting off easy so you can learn the maneuver. Wouldn't do you much good if you were actually fighting to stay alive." He said yet again, before turning and tossing a ball at a blindfolded Luffy and Ace. They both grunted as the ball rebounded off their heads and Ace cursed at the stupid piece of sea stone sitting in his lap. Mihawk continued to observe the grumbling green haired boy who was trying to remember the stupid footwork.
Perona shrieked in frustration and continued her steady stream of complaints that Mihawk had completely ignored since she refused to put on a blindfold. In fact the only sign that he was aware of her presence was the haki covered arm that would casually sweep through the small ghosts that had been sneaking up behind him.
He continued the training exercise for the next hour before calling it done and directing the kids to run a circuit of the island to cool down. The boys shrugged, starting to run after Luffy who excitedly challenged them to a race. He called after them that there would be no powers used before looking at the pouting girl.
"I do not run." She said firmly.
"If you don't want to join in the training, then I will be sure to put together a list of chores for you to do instead." He said challengingly.
"And why would I do those? It's bad enough I had to help clean half the castle the other day but I am not a maid!"
"You cleaned the castle because you and the boys disobeyed a direct order and spied on things that didn't concern you." He reminded her. "And you will either do chores or follow training. If not, you will be leaving. Nobody is staying here for free." He lifted a brow and stared her down until she huffed in annoyance and stomped after the boys. "And remember a full lap with no powers. I am watching you." He smiled at the shriek of annoyance from behind him and sauntered in to start lunch.
He sighed when the peaceful kitchen was interrupted by the boys arriving. First came Ace bursting into the hall and then Luffy slingshotting himself through his brother, smashing into the wall next to the kitchen.
"I won!" Ace crowed.
"Nuh uh. I touched the kitchen door first!" Luffy shouted back.
"Yeah but you used your powers! And that was against the rules so you're disqualified!"
"Am not! He said no using powers while running the lap. Not when we were in the castle. 'Sides you turned to fire when I went through you!"
"Yeah so I didn't get trampled by you!" Ace yelled back.
"Cheater!" "Menace!" They started yelling and then Ace leapt on his brother, tumbling him over and they rolled around on the floor, trying to get the upper hand. Suddenly the two of them were doused in cold water and they yelped in shock.
Mihawk stood over them annoyed. "If you boys still have this much energy I am happy to assign you some fieldwork instead of lunch. No?" Both boys shook their heads and tried to look contrite. They'd both had shifts helping to plant the years crops and the monotony was deadly. "Right, Luffy get the mop, Ace set the table. And where the hell is Roronoa?"
"Shishishi. Zoro got lost again. He's so dumb."
"How did he possibly get lost? He was with you two and running in a circle!" Luffy shrugged and Mihawk pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Right, go and fin-"
"Don't bother. I found him already." Perona said as she yanked the swordsman in by the hand. "Seriously how do you not know where the kitchen is after all this time? It's just pathetic by this point."
"It's not my fault someone keeps moving the kitchen!"
"No one is moving the kitchen! That's just stupid. Were you dropped on your head as a baby?"
Mihawk sighed as he sent all the kids to wash their hands and then to the table. By now he was well practiced in blocking Ace and Luffy's wandering hands and he half heartedly scolded them during the arguments that arose over the food. Pretending that he didn't see the way Zoro left a chunk of meat on the side of his plate for Luffy to steal. He sighed and debated chugging his wine, having finally seen the appeal in drinking like Shanks. Who knew kids were so exhausting. "Zoro you're on dishes, Perona clear the table and help dry." The two of them grumbled, glaring at each other but he ignore them. "Our next lesson will be in 3 hours. Behave until then." He went to stride out when he heard the familiar sound of the Den Den… and not his private one. "No interrupting me!" He yelled out as he rushed to his office.
"Dracule Mihawk. We have a mission for you." Came the familiar voice of Sengoku.
"After wasting my time at Marineford, I do believe that I shall decline. Why don't you try Doflamingo? I hear he doesn't mind being an attack dog."
"As a member of the Warlords, it is your duty to fulfill a mission when ordered. So if you would like to continue enjoying the protection provided by the marines I suggest you listen."
Mihawk bit back to scoff at the thought of needing protecting. Seas, he wanted to tell the asshole where he could stuff it but he thought of the children currently running around his protected island and grit his teeth. He couldn't afford to lose his home base- not now at least. "Who am I disposing of?" He ground out.
"Theres a new upstart who's making trouble in the South Blue. You will leave immediately."
Mihawk swore when the line was finally dropped. Why couldn't this call have come when the RH pirates were around or Rayleigh. Well unfortunately he didn't have a choice. He'd have to trust that the kids wouldn't destroy the island in the few days it took for one of the others to return…. Oh seas, his castle was doomed.
Mihawk stared at the four kids who were standing on the dock as he loaded his boat. "I swear to Davy Jones, if you destroy my castle, I will ensure you build it back brick by brick until its perfect… after I remove your favourite arm from your bodies." Luffy giggled at the threat and Mihawk hissed in distress. "Now I expect you 4 to continue your daily training and to clean up after yourselves. I will be calling every day. You WILL answer every time and I will expect to talk with all of you. Luffy stay out of the kitchen. Roronoa, I've locked the liquor cabinet and I know exactly what I have in there. Any sign of disturbance and you will not be getting any alcohol during your time here. Ace and Luffy, the castle is not designed to withstand fire or bodies through walls- kindly control your powers or go outside. Perona, no torturing the others with your ghosts. Just because you are oldest does not mean they are your servants." The four kids nodded along obediently and he glowered. "Red Hair has only arrived at the island today- he insists that they will be departing tomorrow but he is still several days away. Rayleigh is currently unreachable since he refuses to use a god damn boat but he should be checking in sometime in the next couple of days. Let him know that I was called away but Shanks is likely to be back first. If anyone else arrives at the island stay hidden. I should not have to explain what would happen if anyone knew of your location boys. If someone is here and they get too close to your hiding place, send Perona to make a distraction. She at least is not actively being hunted."
He took a breath and cursed quietly to himself. Never before has he felt this worried leaving. Curse Red Hair for bringing these kids into his life. Why the hell did he care so much? The very thought of what could happen to them without any supervision was making him nauseous. "Train and take care of each other. Theres first aid kits and fire extinguishers in every room. Behave!"
Perona sighed and then reached down, untying his ship and shoving it from the deck. "We got it. Go already."
He nodded, taking a last look at their smug faces before moving his ship through the treacherous bay. He had just disappeared into the fog when he heard a loud whoop of excitement and his haki picked up on the rough housing behind him. "Gum Gum Twister!" Echoed through the fog and a shriek of surprise before a couple of splashes.
Mihawk flinched, fighting the urge to turn around and yell at the kids. He reminded himself that they were all adults who had been on their own for months, if not years. And Roronoa had a lot of practice retrieving devil fruit users from the water. Besides he really didn't have a choice but to keep going.
Shanks was not having a good time… though to be fair, Benn was maybe having a worse one. He only had to deal with his panic and stress about his kid, Benn had to worry about him. He fought down his haki that wanted to erupt and instead focused it on the sea in front of him. For once he was grateful that the calm belt was full of sea kings as his rage targeted the beasts, bringing several carcasses to the surface.
"Damn it! Fucking Pa and his good ideas. Oh go on Red, its just a quick trip. 7 days! The kids will be fine with Mihawk…. Son of a bitch!" Shanks cursed and a couple more sea kings appeared.
Benn sighed and rubbed his eyes exhausted. "Shanks, no one could have known Mihawk would be called away. He rarely is summoned."
"Do you know what kind of chaos could be happening there right now? And we are still 3 days away! What if the marines show up? They're strong but they aren't ready to fight another Admiral!"
Benn smacked him with a haki coated fist. "You're spiralling. We spoke to them on the Den Den not even 2 hours ago. There is no reason for the marines to go to Mihawks' territory let alone an admiral."
"You don't know that!" Shanks protested and Benn glared at him. "Ok fine, it wouldn't make sense but this is Anchor! Nothing ever makes sense with him."
"Fine. Say for some strange reason, some marines do end up there… they have to pass through a bay that is full of hidden perils, they have to make the trek through an inhospitable island full of humandrills who are taught to attack trespassers and then they have to face 4 kids - 3 of who have proven to be formidable fighters on their own and one with the power to send most enemies grovelling in the dirt." Shanks grunted in return. "Captain, they will be fine. They're probably just enjoying the freedom of no supervision."
Shanks paled, before turning and rushing past his first mate. "I'm going to call and check in on them again."
Benn sighed and wondered if he should try hiding the poor Den Den.
Buggy glared at the Den Den in front of him. It had been weeks and the damn thing refused to ring. Here he was, flashily risking his life, picking fights with Marines and enraging the government and they were too busy to pick up the Den Den and check in on him? Hello? He deserved some acknowledgement for his bravery and sacrifice.
He snarled at the sounds of screams and thuds upstairs and stormed up to the deck. "Will you keep it down up here? Seriously, stop playing around with them and put them out of their misery already." He yelled annoyed.
Crocodile smirked at him as he exhaled his cigar. "Nice of you to make an appearance Clown. The fight is almost over."
"As if I would waste my time with these nobodies." Buggy laughed, flying over to the marine ship and raising his jolly roger on the mast. He grabbed one of the dying marines. "Now where would I find your treasure?" The poor man choked out an answer and Buggy happily retrieved their stash before returning to his ship. "Lets get out of here before their reinforcements arrive."
They sailed off, leaving the marines ship broken and slowly sinking with its remaining crew. As soon as they were out of sight Crocodile held out his hand and Buggy reluctantly dropped the treasure into his grip."Oh don't look so blue Clown. You get the credit, I get the rewards." Crocodile opened the pouch and then tossed him a couple coins. "So BOSS… where to next."
Buggy sighed. "We're going to have to do something big soon but for now let's head for the South Sea. This one is getting a little full of marines." He glared at the Den Den again. Damn it, he wanted to hear how the flashy brat was doing!
Crocodile laughed. "And are you finally going to man up and call for an update?"
"Shanks made it very clear he doesn't want to hear from me." He muttered, turning away and leaving Crocodile with the spoils of their battle while he went to update the crew.