Swordtism 010

Rushing through the secret underground tunnel, they ran down a sloped staircase until reaching what appeared to be an underground harbor. 

Dim, teal crystals lit the way, and with his special eyesight, Mihawk had no trouble seeing in the low-light environment. Additionally, Elena's Devilfruit cast a green, vibrant glow around their surroundings, providing decent enough illumination. 

“Hey, that boat looks pretty good.” Alex said, pointing a large sausage-like finger at a vessel. 

Sleek, and made of a deep brown oak, it had an all black flag, and seven cannon ports on each side. In fact, it appeared to be remarkably similar in size & design to a famous ship from the Pirates of the Carrie series. 

“We'll call her the Black Pearl.” Mihawk stated, walking towards the ramp that led up to her deck. 

Alex rolled his eyes, following behind. “Pardon my gruff attitude, but you don't look like the type who knows how to work a boat. Fortunately, I know how to work a sail, tie down a dozen different knots, and can work my way around a hammer & nails.” 

“Mn. It's all on you, then.” Mihawk simply stated, walking towards the quarterdeck where the wheel was. 

“Uh, maybe we should find some guys to do that stuff?” Alex weakly added. “After all, we did steal all that cash from that ninja bastard.” 

“Cheer up, Ah-Lux, we're going on an adventure!” Elena smiled, and rhythmically slapped his back, producing loud drum-like beats with her powers. 

Caught off guard, Alex stumbled forward, accidentally tripping on, and breaking a rope. Once the rope snapped, a mechanism activated, and the peaceful underground harbor suddenly took on a rapid change. The calm water surged rapidly, and a geyser formed underneath the Black Pearl. 

The force of the roaring rapids forced them upwards, and the ship was spat out of a cove & onto the open ocean. 

Mihawk had only just reached the wheel, and found himself holding onto it for dear life. Wrestling with the wheel so that they didn't go spinning out of control, it felt like he was drunk driving a racing game whilst wrestling his little cousin at the same time. Not an easy task! 

The latent power of the geyser had them shoot way past the startled occupants of the Marine ship, and skip off onto the horizon. Thus proving that the anime physics of One Piece were truly no joke. Any ordinary wooden vessel would've cracked or fallen apart by now, even some of the less sturdy ships in this world would've groaned. However, the Black Pearl was simply built different. She didn't suffer any injury, and in fact, she glided across the waves with such smooth stability that it was more miraculous than any technology from Earth. 

“Truly magical. Thank you, Black Pearl. We shall be in your care.” Mihawk whispered, patting the wooden frame with a quiet seriousness. 

“Are you in love with the ship?” Elena asked, suddenly popping behind him. 

The long-legged Princess propped his chin on his shoulder, and looked down at the smooth oak wood in curiosity. 

“Aye, a man is always in love with his ship.” Alex said, working his shoulder as he walked up the quarterdeck. 

“Indeed. We should all cherish such a fine vessel.” Mihawk solemnly stated. 

Elena pulled back, and nodded along sagely. “My father said that insulting a man's ship is worse than insulting his mother. We must take good care of her.” 

Mihawk grunted in agreement, and then, opening up the chest he had taken along with him, took out a map. 

“You know how to read that thing?” Alex asked in a heavy tone. 

“From the looks of things-” Mihawk got out. 

“Yeah, yeah, I walked into that one. But still, we don't want to get lost, and end up starving like her.” Alex said, pointing a thumb at Elena. 

“Mhm, never again!” Elena rapidly nodded her head. “Otherwise some creepy dracula will visit us in our cells, and feed us rotten fruit.” 

Mihawk gave the shivering creeped out woman a side-eyed glance, and sighed. 

Staring intently at the map, he used Captain Toad's ability, Treasure Sense. 

He found that when he focused upon a name on the map, he felt a small tug towards a real life location. 

Huh. Neat. 

Looking at their current position, one of the nearest places they could go to was painted with a giant tree shaped like broccoli. 

“Oh-ha-ra! Papa spoke about that place, it's full of the wisest scholars in across all the Blues!” Elena excitedly stated. “Let's go there next.” 

“Scholars, huh? They might know something more about Shadaloo. I agree.” Alex nodded along, crossing his arms with a big grin. 

“...” Mihawk narrowed his eyes, maintaining a state of silent contemplation. 

Ohara was doomed to destruction two years from now. That is, two years after the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger had been executed. Seeing as that great man had been deceased now for less than a week, Mihawk wouldn't have to worry about accidentally being caught in the crosshairs. 

That said, should he try to save them? Could he save them? The supreme immortal existence at the top of the World Government wanted Ohara destroyed for researching the lost history of the Void Century. Entangling with Imu at this stage would simply be asking to die. No doubt the secret government agency akin to the CIA, Cipher Pol, had spies planted amongst the populace. If he made his face known, no doubt he'd be placed in some file marked: elimination. 

But then again, his life's goal-besides becoming the greatest swordsman-was to complete the legendary feat of slicing the Red Line in half. Cutting the continent sized landmass, and home to the Celestial Dragons in half would make him enemy number one. 

“Hawkguy?” Elena asked in concern. 

“Hmph. We're going to Ohara.” Mihawk simply stated, then changed course. 

“Yay, outvoted, heh heh.” Elena danced around the entire deck, doing cartwheels and backflips. 

Tiring herself out, the professional dancer mightily yawned, waved at them with a mumble, then entered the cabin to find a random cot to sleep on. 

Alex, meanwhile, sat down on the deck behind Mihawk, then pulled out some cream from his traveling bag. The muscular hulk began applying it to some nasty bruises he had accumulated over his body. 

The two men didn't so much as say a word for several hours. Mihawk was lost in his thoughts, and found the open sea to be therapeutic. Due to the multiple moons, there was bountiful light upon the surface of the ocean, and if he had to describe it in a word, the landscape was: beautiful. 

Needing to adjust course only every now and again, Mihawk found the pressures of the day bleed away in the cool air of night. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt truly free. Free to travel in whatever direction he wanted, and just go. It was quite liberating to know that any path he picked was one of his own design. 

A small smile curled at the corner of his lips as he imagined the life Monkey D. Luffy lived, of the adventure Roger had made for himself. Conquering the world, or fighting for some faceless masses…he'd leave that heroism to guys like Harry Potter or Naruto. To sail the open waves, feel the wind on his hair, or fight with his friends, that was the pirates life for him. 

Feeling the reassuring presence of the silent First Mate behind him, that hint of a smile turned into a full on grin. 

“Finally willing to open up?” Alex asked with a chuckle. 

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” Mihawk stated without turning around. 

“I can tell that the name of that island weighs heavily on your heart.” Alex slowly drawled. 

“One day soon, the World Government will erase Ohara from history.” Mihawk grimly stated. 

“Shit, no kidding?” Alex said in a stunned tone, and sharply sat up. 

Mihawk let silence & the sharp flapping of his cloak answer for him. 

“Damn…damn, I knew there was something rotten with those Marines.” Alex squeezed his fist tight. “And to think I sort of emphasized with that Justice-brained bastard.” 

“Do not blame the grunts for what is decided at the top.” Mihawk shook his head. 

“So who do you think is going to order the hit?” Alex asked curiously, not even considering that Mihawk was pranking him. “The Fleet Admiral, or the Celestial Dragons?” 

“All will be revealed once we reach Ohara.” Mihawk said in a low tone. 

“Sheesh. Alls I wanted was revenge for my poor little Patricia. Never imagined I'd walk into a conspiracy like this.” Alex muttered in disbelief, and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. 

Mihawk stared up at the full moon, and grunted in agreement. 

“Heh. You know. You don't look like the type to care about saving the day. And yet, you helped me find Patricia first thing, fed Elena when she was locked up…you even went easy on that Marine chit. Ya'know what I think? I think you're a big'ol softie.” Alex accused good naturedly. 

“...” Mihawk continued facing forward. 

“Tch. The tough guy act again? Whatever, man. Anyway, when you're ready to tell me who you really are, where you come from, and why you know so much, I'll be here.” Alex said in passing, clapped a massive hand on Mihawk's shoulder, then turned in for the night. “Come get me in 5 hours & we'll trade places.” 

Mihawk watched the big guy disappear into the lower decks, and sighed. Sorry, Alex, but telling you I'm a transmigrtor & you're story book characters is too cringe for my blood. 

But claiming to be from another timeline, or have some sort of prophecy vision with eyes like this…perhaps that could be my answer? 

Shaking his head, Mihawk thought it best not to dwell on such matters. The pain of losing his loved ones from Earth wasn't something he wanted to think about. 

Humming to himself, Mihawk sailed into the night. 

Five hours later, he changed shifts with Alex, then tiredly entered the Captain's cabin, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. 

Waking up to discover he had fallen asleep on the long-legged warrior-he thought this bed was extra soft-Mihawk wiped her drool from his face, and then calmly stood up, intending to relieve himself. 

“Ahh~” Elena stretched her long limbs, and rubbed her eyes, looking like an anime character waking up from deep sleep. “I say, MiEyes, you're stiff like a board. A perfect mattress, just like my dad.” 

Mihawk knew the girl was all sorts of innocent, but his eyelid could only twitch as his mind was forced to wander. What kind of dumbass pervert was writing her dialogue?! 

Ignoring the clingy…sigh, why is she naked…ignoring the young Princess lacking in social boundaries, Mihawk tossed her clothes at her face, then made sure to lock the bathroom door so he could calm himself. Thank God there's a bathroom. 

After cleaning himself up, he arrived on the deck, and Alex shoved some burnt fish towards him. 

“Tank you, Ashleaks.” Elena happily devoured the burnt fish with all sorts of blackened charcoal coating her lips. 

Mihawk rubbed his eyes, and the bridge of his nose in consternation. 

“Ahem. Well. At least we aren't going hungry. Maybe you try cooking next time?” Alex said in an embarrassed, passive-aggressive tone. 

“Hire some crew so we can sleep in, and a chef. Those are our top priorities.” Mihawk succinctly stated. 

While he didn't want a crew as big as Don Krieg, and he'd like one full of only elites like Luffy…maybe having a few cannon fodder jobbers hanging around like Shanks did would be useful. Paying some randoms to do miscellaneous tasks didn't sound like grand adventure, but on God, fuck cleaning toilets, scrubbing the deck, cooking food, and general upkeep. He was a sword obsessed maniac, not a maid. 

“I can do the cleaning, we don't need to hire someone else. I love to sing the cleaning song~” Elena volunteered, and then pulled out a mop from somewhere, and started to both sing & use her Devilfruit power to knock the dirt out with the vibrations of her melody. 

Well. Maybe he could go the elite route. 

Mihawk suddenly felt an itch in his heart, then he jumped to the front of the ship, hand on his hilt. 

There, up ahead, was Ohara. 

And with a hawk-like zoom with his eyes, he spotted a pair of exceptionally familiar people. One of them had long pink hair, and wore a police cap rather suggestively. The other was clad in a green cloak, and had a prominent red tattoo spread across his tanned skin. That man suddenly glanced back, and their wills clashed. 

They were none other than:

Poison & Dragon.