Chapter 7 | "Eyes-san."

"You."

Scarlett turned to see Mihawk looking at her under the brim of his hat. She found that the marines had aptly given him the appellation Hawk-Eyes. His golden orbs managed to shine even under the cover of his hat, as they fixated on her, almost like a hawk did its predator.

"You are not weak." The man stated factually.

Scarlett blinked slowly at that. She didn't know what she was supposed to answer to that as that came out of the left field. Was it supposed to be a compliment? Was he trying to accuse her of something?

"Uh, thank you...?" Scarlett couldn't help the slight upturned tone at the end of her sentence, "You are quite tough yourself, Eyes-san." The nickname had him blink back at her, but she didn't give him the time to think much of it as she bulldozed through with the thought that's been itching at the back of her mind.

"You know, you look somewhat familiar." Scarlett mentioned, her head cocking to the side, "But I can't seem to put a finger on it."

"I don't think I could say the same for you, miss." The swordsman returned, which... was understandable. She was wearing quite the concealing outfit - what with the hood, mask, and all that jazz.

The woman then pondered for a moment before asking "Were you at the Pirate King's execution?"

Mihawk looked surprised, briefly caught off guard by her unexpected question, before finally nodding. The movement drew out a sound of understanding from Scarlett.

"Hey, Hawk-Eyes!" A gruff voice interrupted them as Don Krieg made his presence known, unwilling to let himself be ignored any longer. "Why are you still talking to that chick? Didn't you come to take my life, the almighty ruler of East Blue, Don Krieg?" The very man boasted shamelessly - and rather stupidly, in Scarlett's opinion.

"Not really," Mihawk answered dismissively, not sparing him even a single glance, "I was just looking for something to kill some time, but it appears that my attention has been caught on something else." He said as he kept his gaze glued on her being, implicating that the something else he was talking about was her. And of course being the prideful idiot that he is, Krieg took offence in that.

The burly man started to loudly crack his neck, as though the mere sound of it was enough to intimidate the best swordsman in the world. "Well, you may have moved onto your next toy, but I'm tired of getting beaten." The captain of the Krieg Pirates huffed arrogantly before pointing all of his artilleries their way, "Die, you bitch!!"

Sighing in annoyance, Scarlett pulled Gōka out of its sheath and swerved the bullets askew. "You should learn to keep your mouth shut when the adults are talking." She clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she sent one particular large cannon his way.

Mihawk lifted a curious brow at her, focusing on the weapon instead of the explosion happening just ten feet away. "I've not the thought of meeting another wielder of a black blade in a place like this." He marvelled, giving her another once-over as he looked at her in a new light. "I do believe I have some time to spare. Would you care for a short match?" He had a glint in his eyes that she couldn't decipher.

Though conscious of everyone's eyes on them, the prospect of getting the chance to go against the best without either of them ending up dead does not come often. And Scarlett, who had been relatively inactive from the lack of worthy opponent in the weakest part of the seas, itched for some action.

"It would be an honour." Scarlett accepted without much thought, "However, would it be possible to spar elsewhere? I wouldn't want the restaurant to take the brunts of any attacks that may just stray." She sent him an apologetic look that he somehow caught through just her eyes.

The glint in his golden orbs seemed to intensify.

"It is of no problem, of course. I merely ask to sate my curiosity." Mihawk assured as he unsheathed his dagger once more, "A short, small match would suffice."

Delighted with how amiable he was being, Scarlett nodded her agreement of keeping it short and simple - she wouldn't want to keep Luffy from defeating the Kriegs, after all. Glancing at the dagger in her opponent's hand, Scarlett stared at her sword, contemplating briefly before turning its hilt in her hand. Scarlett took on a stance and pointed the blunt edge of Gōka at him, showing clearly that she would also be using a handicap.

If Mihawk had any problems with that, he made no show of it. He simply nodded once before stating that the first one to land a hit shall be the winner.

And with that, they lunged.

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To the untrained eye, they would've thought the two had simply disappeared. They moved in a speed that even Zeff, who'd spent decades in Grand Line, struggled to keep track of their whereabouts on the measly, small slab of wood. Sanji, on the other hand, couldn't see anything and looked around in confusement. The sous chef was flabbergasted when he noticed the focused, shifting gaze of his mentor.

"You can see them?" Sanji asked in disbelief, pulling several attentions of those in earshot.

"Not always," Zeff grunted, his brows knitted in frustration. "I can only see some glimpses when they clash swords."

"How-"

"SHE'S SO COOL!!"

The sudden outburst pulled their attentions towards the small boat that belonged to the two pirate hunters. It hadn't strayed all that far from Baratie's front deck, which give its occupants front row seat to the fight.

Leaning dangerously over the ledge was Luffy. He grinned excitedly from the boat. He always knew that his sister was strong, but he had never seen it with his own eyes just how strong she actually is. To see her actually fighting in front of him was... thrilling and eye-opening. What he had thought to be her limit was actually just a mere fraction of what was being displayed before him, and who knows how much of that is of her actual strength.

"Did... you know she was that strong, Luffy?" His first-mate asked. Zoro sounded quite entranced himself, which wouldn't be wrong to assume as the green-haired man was not far behind Luffy when it comes to being star-struck - not that he'd openly admit it.

"No, I didn't! Shishishi!!" Luffy laughed, sounding all too happy for it.

His response prompted a snort out of Zeff, "Forget blood relations, you're her brother alright." The head chef grumbled humorously.

"Of course I am! I told you already, didn't I?" Luffy exclaimed as he turned towards the old chef with a serious expression, "You know... You're a bit slow in the head, ain't ya old man?"

"You brat-!!"

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Slash!

Another unassuming plank was sliced in half just as Scarlett jumped to dodge Mihawk's attack. Not wasting her temporary aerial advantage, Scarlett swung down. Hard. Though Mihawk was quick to block the blade, she managed to make his arm twitch from excessive combination of gravity, Gōka's weight and her strength. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by the swordsmaster as his golden orb seemed to widen briefly. There was an incline at the corner of his lips, too small to be called a smile, yet too bright to be called a sneer.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Scarlett commented lightly, "I hope I am a worthy opponent for the world's strongest."

Mihawk chuckled even as he parried yet another attack from her sword. "You are certainly more worthy than most of those that I've encountered." The swordsman informed her in a manner much comparable to the cat that caught the canary.

"I could say the same to you." Scarlett quipped smartly, before launching herself forward and putting an end to their banter.

They moved around, the ground getting slashed to the onlookers' disbelief - because a) how could he, when a dagger shouldn't even reach that far down, and b) how could she, when she wasn't even using the sharp end. The fight went on for ten minutes before part of his hat and her cloak had a few inches cut. The force of the wind behind the attack was strong enough to make the fedora fly off of the head of its owner. Scarlett shot her hand out and grabbed it just before it could fall into the sea.

Scarlett sheathed Gōka and offered Mihawk his hat. "Sorry for ruining the hat." She said, even as the man took said hat off her hands and began to inspect the cut, "I'll pay for it. How much is it?" She asked as she went to grab her bag.

"It is of no importance." Mihawk shook off her offer and put the fedora on, halting Scarlett in her tracks. His eyes shone in interest, feeling quite thrilled at the prospect of finding a formidable foe in the weakest part of the sea, "So we have a tie."

Scarlett sheepishly shook her head, "Ah, no. I've been using a longer blade. This is your win, Eyes-san."

Her proclamation had Mihawk's head tilt, his eyes staring unblinking at her for a moment.

"...I am rather parched after our spar." He suddenly mentioned, "Would you care for a drink?"

Tilting her head curiously, Scarlett agreed to join him. "There should be an empty table in Baratie." Scarlett suggested, before beckoning him to follow her. Mihawk did as told, bringing his coffin-like boat along the way. They paid no heed towards the unruly, gaping pirates rushing out of their way. Scarlett met Kuro's inquiring look and nodded in reassurance at him, who in turn, nodded back and stayed in place to watch the inevitable, upcoming battle to come.

Though most had the brains to scatter out of their path, some were reckless enough challenge the duo, despite knowing very well that they were leagues above the Krieg Pirates.

Then, as though they were just talking about the weather, Scarlett somewhat casually asked, "Would you like to handle this?"

Mihawk looked amused at her obvious annoyance, and shook his head. As soon as he did, an invisible wave of force seemed to blast out of Scarlett, and the grunts fell without restraint, almost similar to a puppet whose strings were cut off. Scarlett ignored the way they all fearfully stared at her and continued her way towards the restaurant, not stopping to see whether Mihawk was following her from behind.

It took Zeff a while to snap out of his shock, but as soon as he did, the head chef immediately put one of his men to work and told his staff to serve them as they were customers of Baratie.

After easily breezing through the horde of angry cooks at the deck, Mihawk and Scarlett took a seat by the window, where they could clearly see the action that's currently happening. They observed each other in silence as a nervous chef quickly took their order of red wine.

It was only after the cook brought them brought a bottle of their best wine and scuttled off into the kitchen, did the silent broke.

"You say that you are not the captain of the crew." Mihawk said, referring to what she'd said before the spar.

From the moment they sat down, Scarlett had been looking out the window, keeping an eye on Luffy even as he purposely ran towards Krieg's barrage of ammos. She could feel the Shichibukai burning a hole into the side of her face.

"I am not." She answered, confirming his statement to be true.

Mihawk hummed, "But from what I gather, you are also not part of the crew."

"I am not." Scarlett repeated, confirming his statement once more.

The swordsmaster then tilted his head as though conveying his confusion. "Then what is someone like you doing in the weakest side of the sea?" He asked, "I didn't think there would be anything of interest around."

Scarlett chuckled, her eyes could be seen curving from underneath the hood. "For Luffy." She said simply.

"Lover?"

Scarlett shook her head, "No. Sworn brother." It was quiet for a few seconds before she sighed, "...He is so simple-minded and naive. I can't help but worry for him."

"I do think I understand what it is you are talking of. It is, of course, a reasonable fear." Mihawk took a sip of the wine, scrutinizing her with a sharp gaze, "However you should know that he will have to grow up eventually. You will not always be there to protect him."

"I know." Scarlett nodded, taking a last look outside - Luffy finally turning the tables on Krieg - before finally facing her companion with a resolved gaze, "But until that time comes, I'll do my best to protect him anyway."

Mihawk frowned slightly, "Even at the expense of your life?"

"Especially at my expense." Scarlett immediately said, "If a situation comes to the point where one of us has to die, I will not hesitate to jump first."

Mihawk's eyebrows raised in surprise at her statement. "Don't you have a dream to achieve?" He asked. "You would give it up just for the boy?

Scarlett had an inscrutable look as she repeated his word, "Dream?"

He put down the half empty glass, his sharp eyes staring through her soul, "Have you never thought of doing something when you were a child?"

Scarlett leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms. She actually had a dream, but then that happened. Then she got lost in the seas not long after and spent over a decade focused on going back home, only to find that she was too late and that her mother had died. One thing led to another, and Scarlett now found herself living to protect her brothers, who are now one of her most important people in the world.

"I did have a dream actually... I wanted to be a marine who'd catch all the bad pirates and criminals." She confessed, snorting slightly at something that only herself knew. "Then life happened, and now I don't really favour the Navy that much, I suppose."

Mihawk tilted his head curiously, his mind connecting some puzzles that he picked up on. "You said that you were at the execution." He saw her hand twitch, "Was that why?"

She chuckled, "You sure are perceptive, Eyes-san." She admitted, pointing a finger at him. "I guess that is a major part for it."

She saw his head tilt at the nickname as he looked at her carefully. He muttered to himself for a bit before looking back up at her. "By chance, are you-" Mihawk stopped for a second as he tried to come up with the correct words, "That girl Akagami met who can't seem to remember people's names?"

Scarlett widened her eyes, "You know, Heartbreaker?" She asked, ignoring Mihawk's incredulous look.

"Heartbreaker?"

Scarlett nodded rapidly, "Yeah. Red hair, three scars on left eye, one arm?"

Though confused, Mihawk slowly nodded his head, "Yes, he is who I am referring to."

"Then, we are talking about the same guy! So you're Heartbreaker's friend, huh? I didn't think he actually had any other friends out in the seas." Scarlett commented, her guard seemed to have drastically dropped at the mention of the red-haired Emperor. Before she could continue, something seemed to pull her attention towards the window as she turned towards it.

"Oh, they're done."

Her statement made Mihawk snap out of his thoughts and turned to look out the window. It appeared that the battle was finally over, with the rookie pirate being deemed the winner of the fight.

"Hey, Eyes-san."

Mihawk turned his head back towards the peculiar hooded woman before him.

"I reckon that we'll depart soon to catch up with the ship. If you're still bored, would you like to come along with us? I'd like to hear more stories about ol' Heartbreaker."

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Scarlett: 'That's some piercing, golden eyes he has there.'
Scarlett: "I dub thee Eyes-san for my brain associated have these organs with your very existence."
Mihawk: "Wha-"
Scarlett: "Anyways, oh hey, what's that?"

Scarlett: *Did something cool as fuck*
Mihawk: *Shooketh* "You?? Are?? Strong??"
Scarlett: *Confused whether it was an insult or compliment*
Scarlett: "Thank??? You??? Uh, you too???"

Scarlett: *Literally giving him a nickname the very first time they met*
Mihawk: "Hm, yeah that checks out. Are you that girl Akagami talked about? He said something about you being rubbish with names."
Scarlett: *Excited puppy noises* "OMG, you know Heartbreaker?! How did you meet? Is he an idiot with you too? Tell me all everything!!"

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A'ight, Imma be real with y'all. Out of all the One Piece men, I fucking loveadoreobsess this beautiful piece of a man. Like, he's so freaking unreal that I weep because of it.

Slicked-back hair? Check.
Striking, sharp, slanted eyes? Check.
Impeccable facial hair? Check.
Strong as fuck without any buffs? Check.
Definitely have the aura of a gentleman? Hella Fucking Check.
(I almost wrote 'gentleman of an aura'- DON'T YOU SEE?! THAT'S JUST HOW MUCH GENTLEMAN HE IS!!)

...I think I made my point.

Anywayssss, no need to fret though. I will be giving all of the potential romantic suitors equal (sort of cuz I'm not counting) amount of quality time with sweet, sweet Scar since I do very much loveadoreobsess all of the other love interests as well (though only three matches up to my love for Mihawk).

Next Chapter: "Do not waste your black blade on the weak."

J Out!