Chapter Text
Chapter 1 : A newcomer
When Mihawk heard a loud BOOM coming from the Western side of the island, he did not know what to expect.
He put his glass of red wine back onto the desk of his office and, with Yoru on his back, he proceeded carefully. His use of observation haki let him know that a single person had landed on his island and that it seemed they were unresponsive.
The loud sound had also attracted the Humandrills. He could sense them lurking, getting closer and closer to the person. Mihawk decided he’d better to get there before them.
No matter who the person was, he didn't want them to hurt the local residents, nor did he want the humandrills to hurt the visitor should they remain unconscious.
Whoever they were, they seemed to have crashed through the canopy and were now laying in a small crater in the shape of… a paw print ?
Mihawk groaned and cursed Bartholomew Kuma under his breath. Why had the Warlord felt the need to send someone on his island when he knew how much he valued his privacy ? Did their cordial understanding of each other mean nothing in the end ?
He took a couple more steps to finally see who was troubling his peace. He frowned at the sight of long pink hair. Even Though he didn’t know the girl’s name, he knew he had seen her by Gecko Moria’s side for years.
What could another Warlord’s lieutenant be doing here ? He frowned at her. Dirt and scratches littered her legs and the visible part of her belly but she didn’t seem to be injured otherwise.
He jumped down the small crater and leaned over her.
She opened her eyes, startled and backed away from him, her eyes wide open. In a second three little ghosts surrounded her, hovering between them protectively. A devil fruit user, huh ?
“I’m not here to hurt you.” Mihawk sighed. He straightened his back and extended his hand for her to take.
She looked at it for a second before she grabbed it. She almost flew into him, not expecting him to pull her up with such strength.
He saw her gulp and sighed. What was he going to do now ?
“I’m going to contact Moria and you’ll be on your merry way again.” He said as he turned his back to her and jumped out of the crater. He did not wait for her to answer and did not check if she was following him. He did not care enough for that.
He did not show his surprise when the girl’s face appeared next to his. With a glance he noticed how she was floating.
She was looking around the gloomy forest with a small smile on her face.
“That’s exactly what I had in mind. How did he know where to send me ?” She asked, looking at him expectantly. “Kuma, I mean.” She said as if it was evident. “He asked me where I wanted to go on holiday. Has he ever been here ?”
“As a matter of fact he has.” Mihawk’s short answer did not seem to deter the girl.
“Who else lives here ? I mean, I know you, I know you don’t have a crew, but surely you can’t live on your own on this island.” He could feel her eyes burning holes in his temple as she waited for him to answer.
“I mean, I could completely see myself living in such a place but not without any servants or my faithful plushies.” She shrugged. He kept silent and he could see her rolling her eyes in his peripheral vision.
He heard her audibly sigh and ignored it.
“Wow, is that where you live ?” She flew in front of him, eyes wide with an envious glint. It’s so beautiful !”
She eyed what had clearly been a wonderful and luxurious castle appreciatively.
The building was so high she could barely see its roof. Though the lower floors seemed to be in pristine condition, the rest of the castle was in ruins, for the girl’s greatest pleasure.
He did not wait for her and entered through the huge double door. In no time he was at the top of the stairs on her right, entering one of the dozen rooms in this wing of the castle.
His office was perfectly clean and tidy, exactly how she would have imagined it to be. Thick velvet curtains were stopping any sunlight from entering the room. The desk was large and the chair looked almost like a throne.
The transponder snail in one hand, he glanced at the intruder as she entered the room.
She was clearly fidgeting under his eyes, trying to avoid them by looking at the longest bookshelf she had ever seen.
Mihawk groaned when no one answered.
He hung up before trying again when her voice echoed in the large room.
“We were under attack.” She finally admitted. “I’m not sure how or where everyone is now, but Thriller Bark was badly damaged.” She let her feet touch the carpeted floor and slowly walked to the chair facing him. She sat with a pout, as if she was waiting to be scolded. “The Strawhat Pirates attacked us. The castle was pretty much crumbling when I got out. I have no idea where Moria-sama was. Surely fighting against them.” She shrugged, clearly trying to act as if it didn’t affect her much but the shake of her voice and her glistening eyes were proof she wasn’t just as cold as she tried to appear in front of him.
“As soon as we know where they are, and that they are safe, I’m sending you back. Until then,” he stood up and led her to the corridor, “just find a room on this floor. You can stay here, but remember it’s only temporary.” He walked down the stairs and she followed. “The kitchen’s here and the dining room’s right here. There are a couple of bathrooms next to the guest rooms. A library is in the East wing.” He waved vaguely towards a dark corridor. “Dinner is at eight o’clock, sharp.” He finally turned abruptly to face her. “Try not to bother me.”
He turned his back, walking out of the castle. He stopped under the threshold. “I’ll be gone for at least four days for a meeting with the Marine, maybe more. I’m leaving at the end of the week.”
The girl nodded with a frown.
“Could-”
“I’ll tell you if I see Moria there, or if I hear something.” He cut her.
“Thank you.” She breathed.
He did not look at her when he left her alone in his castle. Not that he trusted her, but he knew that she would never be able to do anything without him feeling it through his observation haki.
He loved his privacy. He enjoyed being alone.
He could not wait for her to be gone.