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Why is he here?
I didn't know what was happening anymore. Everything was falling apart. Nami stole the ship, who knows what Zoro thinks of me, and now Uncle Mihawk shows up. This day is the worst.
Prioritize. First, I have to get to Luffy and tell him about Nami.
I ran back into the restaurant, but everyone had gone outside. I eventually found Luffy and the others freaking out. I saw Yosaku and Johnny were with them, so I guess they heard about Nami. "Luffy, we have a problem!" I yelled, getting his attention. "Nami stole the Merry!"
"I know, I see it." He pointed to the horizon where the ship could still be seen.
"Johnny, where's your ship?" I asked. Maybe I can get the others out of here before he shows up.
He told me it was tied to the restaurant and we were allowed to use it. "Zoro, Usopp, let's go," I heard the two begrudgingly follow me.
"Luffy, are you coming with us?" Usopp asked.
"I still haven't paid off the restaurant," he explained.
"Fine, but be careful. Everything is turning bad real fast, and remember you only have a few days to get out of working here," I told Luffy.
"IT'S HIM! THE ONE WHO DESTROYED THE FLEET!"
No! I wasn't fast enough.
"It can't be... that's him." Zoro looked shaken by the sight of my uncle.
"Please don't..." I tried to stop Zoro, but he was in a state that I don't think he heard me. He just started walking over to Krieg's galleon. I saw someone from Krieg's crew shoot at Mihawk, but he just deflected the bullets like nothing. The men looked terrified at how he had avoided the bullets.
"He deflected the bullets with his sword. I've never seen such graceful swordplay."
I turned quickly and saw that Zoro had made his way over to the other ship and was staring down the world's greatest swordsman.
"Are you the one who cut this ship?" Zoro asked.
"Indeed."
"You really are the strongest. I set sail to meet you," Zoro said.
"What are you aiming for?" Uncle Mihawk asked him.
"To be the world's greatest. You said you had some free time, let's fight." Zoro challenged him to a duel I knew he couldn't win.
"You damn fool," I whispered.
The rest of us stood there, watching the two exchange words and ready for a duel. Uncle pulled off his necklace and took the top off to reveal a tiny knife. "What are you going to do with that?" Zoro didn't understand that he was out of his league.
I wanted to tell him to get out while he still could, but no matter how hard I tried, words wouldn't come out.
"You wouldn't use a cannon to kill a fly, would you? Unfortunately, this is the smallest blade I carry," he said dismissively.
Stop playing with your food; just get it over with.
Zoro charged. "ONI GIRI!" Zoro was stopped dead in his tracks, all his swords blocked in one place by the tiny knife. Zoro broke free and slashed wildly, but each swing was easily parried. Zoro was becoming frustrated quickly, blindly attacking with no clear goal. He really thought he was on Mihawk's level. Uncle Mihawk kept playing with Zoro, blocking every blow, calling him a weakling.
"No one calls our bro a weakling!" Johnny and Yosaku tried to go over and help Zoro, but I stopped them. "Stay out of it!"
Zoro charged forward and was stabbed with the knife like it was nothing.
"Why won't you step back?"
"I'm not really sure. I just know if I stepped back it'd be trampling on the promises I've made. I would rather die than be defeated," Zoro said, laying out his reasons for enduring the pain.
"Speak. What is your name?"
"Roronoa Zoro."
Uncle put his knife away and took his black blade off his back. Why? There's no need for that!
"I will remember your name. As a sign of respect, I will end this with my black sword."
The two men readied their swords and charged. "THREE SWORD STYLE: THREE THOUSAND WORLDS!" Zoro tried, but all but one of his swords was shattered by Mihawk's attack. Zoro put his sword away, stood up, and turned around to face Mihawk.
"Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame."
"Splendid," Uncle Mihawk said before he cut him open. There was blood everywhere. Zoro had a huge wound on his chest from the attack. He fell back and dropped into the sea. I could hear everyone else screaming around me, but I still couldn't comprehend the situation.
You idiot, why? I told you you couldn't win.
Then my mouth finally opened, and I let out a scream I didn't even know I was capable of. "DAMMIT!" I shot my whip over to the other ship to pull myself over and confront my relative for his actions. Sure, Zoro challenged him, but there was no need to take it that far.
"I thought that was you," I heard Uncle Mihawk say as I got closer. "Is that man your friend?"
"SCREW YOU!" I swung at him with my fist but missed. I could feel the tears on my face.
"Relax, boy, he won't die."
"What?"
"That wound won't kill him, but don't think I spared him because he's your friend." He looked at me sternly. "I haven't seen you or Rose in many years. You certainly got taller."
"Cut the small talk, Uncle, I don't have time for it. You had no reason to do that. Why use such extreme methods when Zoro never stood a chance?"
"How do you think he would feel if he was pitied after losing?"
Pity?
"You certainly have made some interesting friends; your parents would be proud."
"Do you know where they are, Mom and Dad?"
"Of course, they're on the Grand Line. I actually came from visiting your sister recently in Loguetown. I'm sure your path and hers will cross soon."
He stopped talking to me and turned to face the boat Zoro had been pulled into. "Listen. It is far too early for you to die. Go out and learn, train, and become strong, then you may return and face me! But until then, I will wait at the top, no matter how long it takes. Surpass me, ZORO!"
I heard most of the crowd gasp at how the great Hawkeye had made such a promise.
"Steve, what is your goal?" he said, turning back to me.
"To become king of the pirates with my best friend, Luffy."
"Quite a tough path indeed, even tougher than your friend's. You know that means you will have to surpass your parents, correct?"
"Of course. I don't care," I smirked. "I'll do it anyway. It'll be half the fun. Usopp, get ready, we have to go after Nami. How's Zoro?"
"Hmph." My uncle smirked a bit.
"Barely breathing, but he's alive," Usopp answered.
Just then, Zoro's arm shot up, sword in hand. What the?!
"Steve, can you hear me? I'm sorry."
Sorry?
"I'm sorry I made you worry, I'm sorry I got so angry, and I'm sorry I lost. If I don't become the world's greatest, I'd only embarrass you and Luffy."
You don't need to apologize.
"I should be the one apologizing. I should have told you in the first place. I broke our trust; I'm the one who's sorry," I yelled back.
"You were both wrong, okay, but bro, you need to stop talking," Yosaku pleaded with Zoro.
"I SWEAR!" He yelled out. "UNTIL I BEAT HIM, I WON'T EVER LOSE AGAIN! IS THAT OKAY, KING OF THE PIRATES?!"
I felt an odd sense of pride. "THAT'S JUST FINE!"
"I hope to see you again soon. You certainly have interesting friends. Goodbye, Steve." Uncle Mihawk turned to walk away before Krieg interrupted, wanting to know if Uncle was here for him.
"No, I'm just here visiting family…" he sighed.
Krieg had the audacity to shoot at him when he didn't like his answer.
"Farewell," was all Uncle said before he swung his sword and cut the ocean itself.
I took the opportunity to swim over to the boat with Usopp and Zoro.
"Steve! Go on without me; I'll catch up," Luffy yelled as the restaurant rocked in the waves.
"Alright, I'll definitely bring Nami back! You just make sure you get that cook!" I gave Luffy one last wave and screamed, "Once we have those six people, we'll head for the Grand Line!"
Luffy's "Alright!" was almost lost in the waves, but I heard him.
It's almost time. Our destination is just a little further away.
"Let's go, guys. Johnny, you and Yosaku stabilize Zoro. Usopp, make sure we don't lose sight of the Merry."
We're coming for you, Nami. I will bring you back. I saw that look on your face when you picked up that poster for Arlong. If he's the problem, we'll take him out.