"Luffy": talk
"Sabo": whisper
"ACE": shout
"Gomu Gomu no": the skill's name
'idiot': thinking
<Joyboy>: voice of all things
-Into the story-
Everyone was watching the fight with fascination as Zoro had launched himself toward the older man but was stopped by Mihawk's blade. The shockwave then occurred as the three swords, covered in Haki, clashed with the bigger one. They kept it like that for a while, then jumped away from one another, and clashed with each other again. Most of the audience must admit this was an amazing fight, even though they hardly kept up with those two speeds. There was only one exception, Luffy's eyes had flickered from place to place, since the battle had been unfolding at a speed which untrained eyes couldn't keep up.
The two swordsmen seemed like they were itching for a more open space to fight, because their battle ground right now was in the middle of the sea with a few footholds. Zeff had quickly ordered the chefs to open the restaurant's fin, so they wouldn't destroy the restaurant. However, Luffy thought that wasn't the thing they would worry about, because the two swordsmen were clearly holding back so as not to damage Baratie. It was the reason that made the young captain admire high-level swordsmen. They controlled their slashes with grace, and only cut what they intended to cut.
Even though Zoro was strong, fate had already deemed that this was the fight he couldn't win. Luffy watched worriedly as he saw how Zoro was panting heavily after he and Mihawk separated from each other. Scared that he couldn't hold himself back at the end of the fight, Luffy decided to tie his hands and legs to the rail, so he wouldn't jump at the Warlock like last time.
Zoro was mad not because of Mihawk, but rather because of his ability. He knew Mihawk was strong, he knew he was disappointing his captain, he knew that it wasn't wise to let emotion affect his fight. Even though Zoro was trained by Shanks and Mihawk, it was obvious that this wasn't enough to achieve his dream. But Zoro couldn't back down, he would never back down. This was his oath to Kuina, his whole life's dream. Just like Luffy, Zoro would follow his dream even if it required him dying, and the swordsman would never lose.
"I see you're planning to put a stop to this pointless fight" Mihawk said amusedly.
"Of course! And I'm not planning to lose", Zoro, somehow said with a sword in his mouth.
"If you are done playing around, then I assume that I should be too."
Once again, the battlefield was surrounded by silence, because of the tension between the two swordsmen.
"Three Swords Style...." Zoro muttered, then launched himself toward Mihawk.
"Oni....Gigi"
While Mihawk was going through with a simple downward slash. As the two swordmen collided, Zoro finally knew the difference between Hawkeye and himself, how far he should go to reach his dream. Passing each other, the two swordsmen stood silently, while their backs were facing their opponent. Then suddenly, Zoro stumbled, the blades of the two swords in his hands were shattered into small spieces. Zoro had to take Shusui out of his jaw to support himself.
After a few minutes, Zoro decided to turn around and face Mihawk with his arms wide open. This got Mihawk to feel nostalgic, as Zoro also did the same when they first faced each other from the previous timeline. Even though the older swordsman had clearly known Zoro's answer, he still decided to ask the question which was inside everyone's heads.
"What are you doing?"
"Scar on the back is a swordsman's shame" Zoro grinned.
"Well said!" Mihawk praised
"Then I shall give you an honor to die under my black blade, Yoru" Mihawk said calmly.
The audience was shocked by Mihawk's words. They knew the Warlock was cold, but never thought he would say something like that to his son with such a calm face and cold voice. However, Luffy and Perona didn't seem to make a move after hearing Hawkeye's statement.
Without waiting for another minute, Mihawk quickly took his sword up and went through another downward slash, cutting open his younger opponent. Zoro then fell down on his back after he had spilt out a lot of blood from his mouth. He was unable to move, but could still breathe. That was a good sign, right?
Couldn't hold himself any longer, Luffy quickly rushed toward Zoro, along with Usopp and Nami, and holding the first mate with his shaking hands. Nami was also speechless as she saw the wound on Zoro's chest, tears were falling down her cheeks. Meanwhile, Usopp was treating Zoro's wound in a panic-like state. But then everything seemed to freeze as Zoro suddenly raised his hand which was holding Shusui up to the sky.
"L-Luffy!...*huff* ...I'm sorry for worrying you....*huff*...." Zoro said, then spilt some more blood out
"I-If I do not become the greatest swordsman then....*huff*.....you probably feel disappointed, right?!.....*huff*" He continued
"Idiot! Stop talking already" Nami said worriedly, while tears still fell down her cheeks.
"L-Luffy!....*huff*.....I swear on this curse sword of mine.....*huff*.....I....I will never lose again...*huff*" Zoro said, tears had already formed on his eyes
Suddenly, Luffy saw himself holding Zoro's lifeless body that was covered in a pool of blood, with his bloody arms. Luffy's face immediately became pale, because it was just like the last time, his last moment with Zoro. The young captain couldn't help but to tear up, while thinking it was his fault to be too careless, it was his fault to lead the crew to their ends. Once again, he was too weak to protect anyone, his head was too loud with all the blame he put on himself. But then Luffy was brought back to reality by Zoro's voice.
"....I will never be defeated anymore! .....*huff*..... you hear me, ..... PIRATE KING!" Zoro declared.
"Y-yes, Zoro. I-I hear you....loud and clear" Luffy said.
After hearing what Luffy had said, Zoro quickly passed out, which caused the others to look even more concerned. However, they quickly gave out a relief sigh as soon as Usopp said he was just passing out because of lost blood. Perona then flew toward them along with Mihawk. The Warlock then held Zoro up with his arms in bridal style.
"Don't worry, he's not going to die anytime soon. I'm not the kind of person to kill my own son. Now, can anyone give me a spare room and a first aid kit?" Mihawk said.
"Follow me" Zeff said.
Mihawk and Perona then followed Zeff into the restaurant, leaving the others outside. Luffy still hadn't recovered from what had happened, not until Nami touched his shoulder and gave him a concerned look.
"Luffy! Are you OK?" Nami asked.
"I.....I don't know", Luffy replied.
.
.
.
.
.
.
After Zeff had led them to a spare room inside the restaurant, the head chef decided to let them be while he went back outside to watch the fight. Perona quickly went toward the bed where Zoro was lying, and went to check for his wound. Mihawk didn't know what to do so he sat on the bed, watching his oldest daughter helping his brother. When she was done, Perona turned to Mihawk with an angry face.
"Ma, how many times did I and Uta have to remind you to watch your strength whenever you and Zoro spar? That cut almost took his life", Perona scolded.
"..." Mihawk stood silent, as he knew so well that not to make his daughter even more angry or else bad things would happen.
This wasn't the first time he was scolded by Perona or Uta, but usually Shanks was the one who would be scolded by them. The red head couldn't help but try to hide away from them to drink his favorite booze, but later on he was found out by one of Perona's ghosts. The sisters then gave him the punishment of becoming their dress-up doll for one month. It was a hellish month for the Yonko.
As for Mihawk, it was on one of his and Zoro's spars. At first, it was just a normal fight between a parent and his child, but then it led to a tense fight. Mihawk was suddenly being so carried away that he gave Zoro a serious cut, which led to the young boy losing his left sight forever. When Perona and Uta found out, he was scolded by the two girls, they even banned him from touching Yoru and any swords in his collection, and didn't let him leave the island for one month.
Now, looking at the still angry Perona, Mihawk gave out a soft smile. Glad that she was concerned about her brother, even though these two always fought. After Perona finished scolding her Ma, she decided to go find something for Zoro to eat, leaving these two inside the room.
"I know you are already awake, Zoro" Mihakw said, after Perona had already gone.
Zoro then slowly opened both his eyes, revealed the white iris on the left eye, to look at Mihawk. The Warlock then gently touched his son's face, caring it with his thumb while giving Zoro a sad look. Zoro knew that look, his Ma was probably feeling guilty again. Mihawk always gave his family members that look whenever one of them was sick or injured.
"It's not your fault, Ma. It was me who wanted to challenge you". Zoro tried to comfort him.
"I know" Mihawk said.
Suddenly, they heard a loud sound coming from outside. Zoro was thinking that Luffy was probably involved in whatever that ruckus was. Only thinking about that idiot, Zoro couldn't help but to give out a hopeless smile.
"You should be more careful from now on, Zoro. That boy has been through a lot of things, so don't let him be even more heartbroken or worry about you guys", Mihawk said, with a tone full of sorrow.
"What do you mean?" Zoro asked confusedly.
"It's not my place to say, but when the time comes, he will tell you the truth."
This got Zoro to feel puzzled about what Mihawk had said. It was obvious that Luffy was the boy Mihawk had mentioned, but what did his Ma mean by that he had been through a lot? Luffy and Zoro had known each other since they were just 7 and 9 years old, and it was clear that nothing happened to him at that time.
However, when Zoro remembered Luffy's face before he passed out, his captain seemed like he was having a flashback about something very horrible that made him traumatized. In his previous meeting with Loki, the white-haired boy also confirmed that Luffy had difficulty with sleeping, maybe it also gave him night terror. What was Luffy hiding? What was the truth? Were Zoro's questions. This time the swordsman definitely asked the captain when his wound was healed, and helped him, whatever it was, because there was no way he would let Luffy face his problems alone.