Chapter Text
Chapter 1 – The First of No One
~July, 1500 (about 22 years before Luffy left the windmill village)~
"Good job, guys, maybe next time you could break a little... less, but still an all-round successful job. But I mean, what else had to be expected from our Dracule Junior."
"Tze, I don't really care what you think, old geezer."
"Oh, come on, is this behavior really necessary? You know, I personally don't hold it against you, and yes, you already worked your way up damn strong and damn well for your age. But some of these other old geezers don't like your tone at all and..."
"And I'm interested in that, because?"
"Urgh! Dracule, seriously. I'm trying to give you some good advice here if you want to make it to Admiral at some point. Your father..."
"Just to be clear, I don't give a shit about what my old man thinks, and just because you're old doesn't mean you need to act like him, Vice Admiral Monkey."
…
"Uhh, no one has called me that since I left the cadet school. Don't be so shy, feel free to use my first name."
"But I don't want to." Mihawk rolled his eyes. "Well, I've reported, as protocol requires, there's no reason to stay anymore, so I'm going to leave now."
Vice Admiral Garp exhaled and as he spoke, he sounded more serious: "And what if your superior orders you to stay?"
Mihawk shrugged his shoulders and turned to the door: "First, you are not my superior, old man, we have the same rank, you are only ahead of me in years of service, which is why I have to report to you. Second, there would be no reason to give such an order, since the job has been successfully completed, I have enough other tasks to do, and you have nothing new for me. And thirdly, if you want to order me to do something, then do so and don't ask stupid questions. Jiroushin, come."
"Oh, gosh, what a boy," Vice Admiral Garp growled, standing up and rubbing his face.
Jiroushin looked at the senior for a moment, then he prepared to follow his direct superior.
"Commander Cho, please stay a moment."
As if struck by lighting, Mihawk stopped.
"Commander Cho is no subject to your leadership."
"And as you should have noticed, you annoying brat, I didn't give him an order, but asked him. Will you forbid him to talk to me now?"
Both Vice Admirals stared at each other, an unpleasant tension in the air. Jiroushin looked at Garp for a moment, then he turned to Mihawk and gave him a gentle smile.
"Unless you have any other orders, I would like to attend this conversation."
"Whatever. But I'm not waiting for dinner, so hurry up." The door slammed noisily shut behind Mihawk.
"Oh, my goodness, this boy," Garp sighed and went to an armchair at a small table and let himself fall down. "Sit please," he then offered, pointing to a spacious sofa.
"Thank you very much, but no thanks."
"Come on, relax, the official part is over. This is just a friendly conversation between two colleagues. Can I offer you something? Tea?"
"No, thank you," Jiroushin replied again and sat down obediently on the sofa. "What did you want to discuss with me, Vice Admiral Garp?"
The other looked at him with wide eyes but then smiled.
"Huh, always funny with you two. With Dracule, I always feel like giving him a proper scolding with the loving strictness of a father, and with you I feel like some uncle who would advise to loosen up a bit. You're always so extremely formal. Well, whatever, will make it easier for you later."
He didn't say anything, not sure what Garp wanted from him. This man was one of the strongest in the Navy and undoubtedly had a good chance of soon being appointed Admiral himself. To have their own abilities recognized by him would be the highest praise most people could hope for. But Mihawk didn't give a damn about the opinion of others. Jiroushin, on the other hand, was wary.
Many of the older generations did not get along well with his direct superior. As his father, Dracule Gat, had probably wished in the past, Dracule Mihawk had joined the Navy as a teenager, but especially the older representatives did not understand how a rascal of just 19 years old, who could not even say please and thank you, had already made it to Vice Admiral. Some of them had already tried to get more knowledge through Jiroushin, some of them had even tried to turn him.
"Don't look at me like that, gosh. I don't want anything from you, on the contrary, I'm just curious and maybe I want to give you a little advice. Snack?" Now Garp held out a small bowl of seaweed crackers to him, but Jiroushin only shook his head, whereupon Garp shrugged his shoulders and took one himself. "Well, the thing is, you seem to be a good fellow. I've seen your file and actually everything speaks for you and that you can make it far. But..."
"Now you want to explain to me that my superior, Vice Admiral Dracule, does not have a good reputation, and that this could have a bad effect on my standing? Don't bother, you wouldn't be the first to tell me this. Thank you for the thoughts you have about me, but I assure you..."
He interrupted himself when Garp laughed loudly and shook his head, waving Jiroushin’s words off.
"Oh dear, I don't want to test your loyalty, Cho. I know that you and Dracule Junior are friends, it says so in your file. You come from the same island and went to the same school."
"Above all, right up front, we are best friends."
"Mhm," Garp said and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, "and now we're getting closer. Listen to me. I don't want to turn you against Dracule Junior, okay? I know his father – it's strange that both of them are now called Vice Admiral Dracule, isn't it? It doesn't happen that often even here – and I know about his past, not a nice thing, but unfortunately that's not uncommon in our ranks. But let me be honest with you: Dracule Junior won't stay in the Navy forever."
Jiroushin swallowed. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, come on. You know how it works here. Yes, we have a strong attraction for weird characters, but nevertheless there are clear structures and systems in the Navy and that includes our strict hierarchy. Your childhood friend has already come a long way – which is not only due to his father's, but the truth is that success is rewarded, and even if I don't always approve of his manner, his success rate is 100%, so you can't complain – and he could go a lot further. He could easily make it to Admiral with his strength. But, Cho, let's not fool ourselves. The report was your handwriting – all reports are your handwriting – and..."
"Isn't it common in a hierarchy to relieve the supervisor by taking on unpleasant work?"
"But that's it," Garp said and now pointed at him. "You – that is, exactly you – do exactly what is expected of someone in your role, and you do your job brilliantly. You could be a little braver when fighting, but by all means, you're young, we'll get you there. But take a look at your superior. And I don't mean the insults, the disrespectful behavior, the absence from important events, the constant arguments with superiors and his generally genuinely condescending manner."
"What are you getting at, Vice Admiral Garp? Forgive me for not wanting to listen when you badmouth my superior."
"Oh, Cho," he said now and leaned back. "We both know better. You need motivation to do this job, and Dracule doesn't have that. To be honest, I have no idea why he's here at all. He does not do it out of pride, not out of a sense of duty, and certainly not because of any family obligation or for any idealistic motives. I don't know why he puts on his coat and messes with some superiors or seniors every two days, only to do his job after all, but honestly, the boy is a ticking time bomb."
He made no reply. Vice Admiral Garp was known for his honest and benevolent manner. Jiroushin was aware that the experienced soldier meant well and would say things that others would not share. But no matter what he said, it wouldn't change Jiroushin's decision.
He was very aware of what others were saying about his superior and childhood friend. Dracule Mihawk, son of an economic regime, child of a family of brilliant sword fighters. His father, Dracule Gat, had been himself on the list of candidates for the next Admirals a few years ago, but then his wife and daughter, Mihawk's mother and older sister, had been killed in a pirate attack and since then his health had been anything but good. At not even 15 years old, Mihawk had joined the Navy and Jiroushin had followed him without the slightest hesitation.
Of course, he wasn't as strong and powerful as Mihawk, miracle boy of sword fighting, who was able to keep up with the two "monsters" Sakazuki and Borsalino at his young age, but had refused to train with the former Admiral Zephyr, as it was beneath his dignity, and also didn't take part in any of the many training competitions, so nobody really knew who was stronger in the end and if Mihawk really could keep up with them. Many were upset about it, about the thousands of free tickets that Mihawk always got because he only did what he wanted. They blamed his origins, father from the Navy, descendant of the world aristocrats on his mother's side, but Garp had described it quite aptly. It was true that Mihawk paid no respect to anyone and only did what he wanted, but at the same time he accepted any assignment, no matter how difficult and risky, and was always successful.
On one or two occasions, some had even tried to set Mihawk on the most powerful pirate of the present day. Officially, to test his abilities, but unofficially, probably more to teach him a lesson – or to get rid of him. Jiroushin knew that it was Garp himself who had convinced Grand Admiral Kong that this was not a wise move.
And Jiroushin also remembered well how angry Mihawk had been about Garp's interference. He had just been about to hunt down the Roger pirates on his own, when suddenly the rumor had swept over the seas that this pirate crew had disbanded.
Then, in his anger and wounded pride, Mihawk had surely considered challenging Whitebeard or a similar caliber just to prove how good he was, but luckily Garp had intervened again and sent them on that other mission that had at least distracted Mihawk.
Jiroushin confessed to be very grateful for this. He didn't doubt his superior's ability, but even Mihawk had to realize that they couldn't know how strong the strongest in the world could be, and if even Garp, the hero of the Navy, tried to dissuade them...
They were still looking at each other, but Jiroushin refused to break the silence. At some point, Garp sighed.
"You must understand this, boy. There are only three ways for you to get through this unscathed. Either you manage to defuse the bomb and get your superior to finally stick to the rules of the game if he wants to make it here. Or you must keep the necessary safety distance so as not to be caught by the flying debris."
"Was that all?" he then asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Was this advice all you wanted to discuss with me? If that's the case, I'll take my leave now. My superior is waiting." With hard movements he stood up. But he stopped at the door when the other did not stop him.
Slowly he turned and looked at the Vice Admiral, who was still watching him.
"You spoke of three possibilities?"
Now Garp grinned. "I did." Then he got up and walked over to his desk. "Take care of yourself and that snotty boy, Commander Cho. There are troubled times ahead and it would be a shame if the Navy lost two promising young men like you so early."
It was a strange form of farewell. Garp was known for his clear announcements, his direct words, but Jiroushin didn't understand the meaning of this conversation at all. He was used to being approached about Mihawk and advised to distance himself from him. But that didn't seem to be Garp's real goal, as he grinned at him now and then he understood and hurried out the door.
"You left without me."
"Stop sounding like a snapped toddler. I had to leave immediately, and you were still in your conversation with this old busybody."
"Your departure couldn't have waited ten minutes?"
"I wouldn't have taken you with me even then."
So that had been it.
"That was a rigged game."
"Jiroushin, don't be so exhausting. Besides, you still have enough to do with all the paperwork, and I don't even want to know how many letters you still have to write."
He took a deep breath. That was true. He still had some letters waiting for an answer from him, but that was not the point.
"What are you up to? Why did you ally yourself with Garp to keep me from coming with you?"
"Tze, what nonsense are you talking about. I haven't allied myself with anyone, and I don't need any such tactics. If I don't want you to come with me, I'll order you to do so. If the old man wanted to prevent you from following me, that is his business; I haven't discussed anything with him."
"But..."
"But nothing and it doesn't matter. You and the others wouldn't have come with me anyway. Kong didn't ask for warships and soldiers, but only for me."
Jiroushin took a deep breath.
"And what is it about? You know that right now there are some in the Navy who are just waiting for you to..."
"And I don't care, Jiroushin. If they are to set as many traps for me as they want, then at least it won't be boring. But we both know that old Kong is far too straightforward to take part in such games. Some weaklings are overwhelmed by a few civilians, and I'm supposed to change that."
"Civilians? Wouldn't it be better to send a diplomat there?"
"I thought so, too. But apparently the islanders have now hired a pirate crew and suddenly the soldiers are complaining big times." The transponder snail grinned. "You see, at least it's probably not going to be boring.”
But Jiroushin didn’t believe him, didn’t believe a single thing as he wrote his letters and expressed his queasy feeling that Mihawk had set off on this strange mission, and he wondered why Vice Admiral Garp, of all people, had wanted to keep him out of it.
A few weeks later, he was to find out that his gut feeling had come true, that Garp had unknowingly – or perhaps knowingly – acted in his interest.
Because while he was practicing swordsmanship on the training ground, waiting for letters from home, waiting for a call from abroad, the news came.
Dracule Mihawk has betrayed the Navy.
~September, 1500~
It was raining.
A few hours ago, the sun had burned down on the countless people on the market square.
Now it was raining.
In the dawn of a new age.
After the execution, the masses of onlookers had been quickly displaced by the soldiers, but only the rain had emptied the streets and alleys. As if they had all fled from it.
"What do you want here?"
He leaned against some wall of a house with his arms crossed.
"If I'm completely honest, punch you in the face."
"Well then, try it, but don't think you can capture me."
"Who says I intend to do that?"
Unimpressed, he withstood this cold gaze, could see how the bright eyes looked at him as the rain dripped down his black hair.
"What are you wearing anyway? All black and a cloak? Pretty old-fashioned."
"The right clothing if you don't want to attract attention in a city full of soldiers. Very different from you. Do you not care when people see you? You know that a bounty has been put on your head?"
Now Mihawk grinned. "It's that easy to get your own bounty today? Pathetic."
"You deserted, Mihawk. You have..."
"I did not desert, check your facts, Jiroushin. I successfully carried out my mission and then I betrayed the Navy and killed everyone."
"Why?!" Now he was also standing in the rain, directly in front of the other, with his arms outstretched. "Why did you do that? Why did you...?"
They just looked at each other, the rain pattering down loudly on them.
"The system is corrupt, Jiroushin," Mihawk then said, but all malice, all arrogance was gone. He sounded... tired, as if he finally had proof of a betrayal he had known about for a long time. "If you had seen..."
"But I didn't because you didn't take me with you."
"And it was better that way."
"Was it? Mihawk, you are wanted like a criminal! You have... They were not pirates, not criminals! You killed good people."
With a sneer, Mihawk shook his head and then looked up at the cloudy sky.
"Good people? Oh, grow up! What do you think they did? Do you really think there were only the good guys and the bad guys? Were the civilians the bad guys? Because they revolted against the Navy? Because they made common cause with pirates? Or maybe the soldiers became too arrogant in their position? Maybe even the pirates were the good guys."
He stared at Mihawk.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
But Mihawk just shrugged his shoulders and walked past him.
"I’m talking about the fact that absolute justice does not exist, and if it does, then not in the structures of the Navy. That's why I left. That is why I turned against these soldiers, who, in the name of absolute justice, were no better than the criminals we are supposed to hunt." He stopped without turning around. "Do you hate me now? Since I've betrayed everything you stand for? Or because I left you behind?"
What was he supposed to answer to that? What could he answer?
A few hours ago, the execution of Gol D. Roger had ushered in a new era, simply by one human dying, at the same time his own world seemed to be falling apart. He wouldn't say that his childhood had been perfect, but he had grown up quite sheltered, the child of strict but wealthy parents. It was also true that the Navy had been a culture shock, so much poverty, so much suffering that he had seen on his travels, so many dead people and so many... whom he had had to kill. But he had always thought that he was acting in a just way, that he was taking suffering upon himself in order to be able to create something good. To be able to help a friend, to be able to take care of him, just as his friend had taken care of him for years. Mihawk was not an easy person, and his behavior was sometimes anything but moral, but this... He looked at his best friend, who had now killed countless good people, had become a monster. Exactly such a monster as the ones Jiroushin had sworn to hunt, and he wondered only one thing. Why was he here? But he knew the answer.
"I'm sorry, Jiroushin. I have no interest in fighting you, so please don't try to arrest me. You won't succeed."
"I don't intend to arrest you."
Oh, he had actually managed to surprise Mihawk, who now looked at him with wide eyes, then looked at his clothes again. Jiroushin had exchanged the white shirt and blue trousers of the Navy uniform for inconspicuous black clothing with an equally black cape with a hood.
"No, you didn't...?"
"Don't worry, I didn't desert, I didn't kill anyone to be here. I... just left; you could have done the same."
"Jiroushin, you can't just..."
"Leave? Like you? But of course, that's exactly what I did-"
"Jiroushin!" Mihawk had grabbed him by the upper arms. "Have you gone mad?!"
"I could ask you that. What the hell got into you? Did you plan that? And then without letting me know? No wonder Garp said something like..."
"I hadn't planned anything!" He believed him, immediately, without question. "And I... I couldn't stay. But you... you should have stayed. Fuck, Jiroushin! What are you doing here? You did it! Commander, everyone predicts a bright future for you. Your parents are proud of you and are finally giving you the recognition you deserve. You have this girl who writes you thousands and thousands of letters. Turn back! Go home! Apologize for your absence. My father will make sure that no one will give you any trouble – I mean, I've done so much more shit, what's a few days of unexcused absence – and if you..."
"Do you really think I'd go back?"
Mihawk still held him tight, but by now it didn't hurt anymore as he loosened his grip.
"You're running away and disappearing? What do you have in mind? Do you have any plans at all? Do you even have a plan? No?! I thought so! So no, I'm not going to let you down, I'm not going to let you run away and I'm not going to let us face each other one day as... enemies."
Mihawk had let him go.
"What about your parents?"
"I could never do them justice anyway and father wasn't even thrilled about me joining the Navy."
"And what about your job?"
"What about that? In the worst case, they throw me out, then that's it. But I didn't do anything forbidden, so they can't really do anything to me."
They looked at each other.
"What about her?"
Jiroushin smiled. "She proposed to me."
"Wha... what?" Mihawk blinked several times.
"She says I should take good care of myself, and of you."
"Then... she'll let you go?"
"Lirin is a great woman. I think I really love her."
"Nevertheless, you want to leave her now and follow me to nowhere?"
"I don't leave her, she's always with me." He tapped his breast pocket, in which he kept her letters. "And we're not going nowhere. We go out into the great wide world. Just as..." He hesitated.
"Just as Sharak has always wanted." And for a moment he was there, in the rain, for a moment it was Hawky, his best friend from childhood days, when his sister had been still alive. The smile, the beaming, the curiosity. "Are you sure?"
"You know me. I'm scared, but that doesn't mean it's going to stop me. I'll follow you everywhere, to the rector's office, to foreign ships, to the Navy, well then, now to the end of the world."
Mihawk grinned and held out a hand to him.
"Well then, to the end of the world, Jirou."
Jiroushin grinned as well.
"To the end of the world, Hawky."
