Night had fallen. Sabo and the Barbarian had made their depart, and the crew were put through yet another depression. They had their hearts toyed with, to think their beloved swordswoman were to come back to them only for her to remain missing and a hole in their hearts to grow bigger.

Midnight, everyone were fast asleep and the moon were at its highest point in the sky. The dim blue glow shined upon the Sunny, bathing it in the dimmest light. Once again, Zoro were failing his night shift duties, he fell asleep on the job no surprise. Another light overpowered the moon, so blinding the sun would've been jealous. Zoro stirred from his slumber to such a wake up call, his heart pacing, "H-How?" A sword on his hip were radiating with such a light, transforming before his very eyes. The weapon bathed in light, morphing from a sword to a ball that floats within the air and took a small journey to float ever higher. Little by little, the light took the shape of a head with long hair done up in a ponytail, then a flat torso, thin arms, and long legs. Zoro blinked, the form isn't feminine? A double take, Zoro's eyes darted from the masculine form to his hip, the black sword as well as his white sword remained while the red one were missing.

What compelled Kitetsu to awaken from his slumber?

At last, the light faded. Zoro were standing face to face with a rather tall swordsman wearing a black kimono with stark black hair so long it were a ponytail and still reached his shoulder blades with such a length. His face though were stone cold with emotions, the only ones present were drowsiness due to his bored half lidded gaze and mouth pressed into a fine line. But those eyes, they illuminated the night, blue and soulful, like the moon itself.

"I respect you Roronoa," Kitetsu sighed, closing his eyes of blue. "I knew I've chosen my master correctly."

"What?" Zoro were still dazed by the transformation.

"I've killed every swordsman to wield me until you came around," Kitetsu hummed with a devilish snicker. His deep blue eyes had a faint red tint to them upon humming, that explains why his handle were of red leather. A unique characteristic Zoro couldn't ignore.

"Why am I the first?" Zoro asked in return, curiosity getting the better of him.

"You see," Kitetsu tuts, resting a hand upon his hip. "I was the best swordsman in the world back in my prime, until I was defeated for the first time and were denounced to live in what you call hibernation. I call it the void," a hand were pressed to his chest as he recalled memories. "I'm sure you can figure why I call it the Void. Desolate of everything, nothing but your own mind to keep you company and no way out unless a miracle hears your inner wish and guides you away back into reality."

Just hearing Kitetsu explain just exactly what the Void is gave Zoro an inner fear of such place. He tried to imagine himself in the void, to try and put himself in your place. It doesn't sound much different from your home back on Gloomy Island before Zoro had shown up. Cold, desolate, the feeling of being trapped with no way out. A prison.

"You still haven't answered me why I'm the first swordsman you haven't killed," Zoro grew annoyed with Kitetsu despite everything he said.

"Impatient are we?" hostility were noticeable in Kitetsu's smooth dialect. "Well... Anyways, by chance I came out of the Void hundreds of years later. I disliked the time period greatly," the male spits. "Other swordsmen had taken my spot on top, let alone never heard of me. And now there's such thing called pirates, disgusting..." Kitetsu visually trembled, his features laced with hatred. "I awoke from the void being used by some lowly pirate drunkard who rarely used me. I slain the man and resumed my form as a weapon, only for another pirate to use me... New user, I take their life, the process repeats."

"Why didn't you just live as a swordsman like before if you're that disgusted?" Zoro couldn't wrap his head around Kitetsu's sadistic logic.

"I've already announced that I hate pirates," Kitetsu rolled his eyes. "However it were mere curiosity that kept me a weapon. I wanted to see what type of people actually dared to call me theirs," the male held his hand out to Zoro, a sincere understand fell between the males. "You're the first real swordsman to take me under his possession, you also seek a dream I used to live Roronoa."

"As touching as this is, why did you keep yourself silent until now Kitetsu? For the longest time I thought you were just a sword."

"I hate people in general. I prefer to remain alone. As if I'd have a relationship like you share with your little birdie. Being stuck to you like a ball and chain, unable to do much of anything in or out of combat. Not to forget most Master and Weapon bonds are romantic... Don't make me barf," A fire burned within Zoro's chest, he won't let Kitetsu downtalk you like this.

"Don't talk about (Y/n), I'll cut you down," Zoro unsheathed you, swiping at Kitetsu only for him to be gone from sight as if he were never there in the first place. A brush of cold embraced Zoro's throat.

"I'm much stronger than you think Roronoa," Kitetsu snickered breathing into Zoro's ear. "It's about time I restart my cycle."

"Restart?" Zoro furrowed his brow, his other hand reaching for his hip but his white sword Wado were gone. Kitetsu must've stolen it.

"Why It's about time I kill you," Kitetsu smirked shrinking away and allowed Zoro freedom. He in fact had Wado in his grasp, holding it in an offensive stance. "I had fun helping you with your dream Roronoa. However you're so damn weak! How many times have you fought Mihawk and failed? If you aren't the best swordsman there is, then you're not fit to wield the former best. Conditions of our fight: we both use one sword. I defeat you, I kill you... You defeat me, I'll gladly face the void once again and your little girlfriend may return to this world. Don't disappoint me and miss another golden opportunity Roronoa."

Such high stakes, a bead of sweat formed atop Zoro's forehead as he maneuvered to the stance a one sword style swordsman would have as he gripped you by the handle with both hands. "I accept your conditions..." Zoro huffed, his heart in his throat. Why didn't I just accept Sabo's help? Now both mine and (Y/n)'s lives are on the line...

"I wish you luck Roronoa," Kitetsu snickered. "You're gonna need it."

"If anything you need it," Zoro smirked. "Cause I'm not gonna die... I'll win this for (Y/n)," Zoro took on a new stance, holding you high above his head. "36 Caliber..."

"Phoenix," Kitetsu snickered with a devilish smirk. Zoro's body stiffened, his stomach erupting with pain. He stumbled forwards with a cough of crimson. "Silly Zoro," Kitetsu sang. "Have you forgotten I was your sword? I know every move you have," Kitetsu retracted the blood soiled blade from Zoro's stomach. Zoro pressed a hand to his own stomach. That was a fatal wound, if this duel doesn't end within the next five minutes he's as good as dead.

Zoro worked through the pain, he's came closer to death than this, just power through and if you survive you survive. Zoro came at Kitetsu, the black haired male effortlessly dodged. Zoro attacked again, Kitetsu dodged and hits Waco against Zoro's blade almost knocking the weapon out of his grasp with a simple hit treating this match as if it were childs play.

It all continued, a process just like Kitetsu loved most. Countless attacks and Zoro were the only one taking damage. Kitetsu unscathed and a snickering mess. Zoro thought dueling with Mihawk was difficult, this were a whole new level, an ungodly difficulty.

Zoro gripped on your handle with one hand, the man using every last bit of energy he had left into one last attack. The swordsman poured his soul and heart into this battle, the sword of black and jade illuminating an electric green as he held you above his head. "36 Caliber..." Zoro spoke with undefying bravery. Kitetsu watched in awe as Zoro's entire body were illuminating with blinding green light, his eyes flashing red, and sword taking on a presence of something far superior than before.

"A new move eh?" Kitetsu smirked. "Bring it on Roronoa," he playfully taunted.

"Phoenix!" Zoro swung his sword at Kitetsu. The swing unleashed the pure embodiment of flames, the phoenix, the creature howles into the air with eyes of liquid gold charging at the other swordsman destroying everything in its path. Kitetsu's eyes enlarged, the phoenix collides with his sword, throwing him backwards little by little, the power literally eating at his body. Forced to look into the eyes of the beast, Kitetsu didn't see just golden hatred, rather the powerful girl within that they belonged to.

"She's eating my soul..." Kitetsu grunted, the green and gold flames eating at his limbs. "I never agreed to take your place just yet (Y/n)."

"You hurt Zoro, this is redemption!" Your words were drowned out into the mighty call of a phoenix. The bird absorbed Kitetsu's body leaving all but nothing. With Kitetsu's soul absorbed within your own, the anchor you had with the void had split in two! Warmth enveloped your body, feeling it materialise little by little from your toes that tickled the grass of the sunny to your eyes that finally saw the world as it was. Your energy surged within the air, a smile you flashed once your golden orbs locked with Zoro's tired steel. He finally saw the woman he'd been fighting for, dressed in a long green yukata, fire of green and gold following your every movement. "Zoro!" You giggled, bounding towards him open armed.

Although Zoro could barely stand, and the only thing keeping the blood within his body were the hand pressed to his stomach. He outstretched his arms anyways, welcoming in the warm relief once you rushed into his embrace. "You're finally here..." Zoro buried his face into your hair to hide his tears.

"You brought me back," you cried alongside Zoro. He separated the embrace a moment later, he couldn't take his eyes away from your blazing gold.

"I knew you had eyes like a hawk... But a phoenix?" Zoro chuckled.

"Even I'm blown away."

"You're strong," Zoro's bloodied hand caressed your cheek. "Stronger than me that's for sure."

"Can we just appreciate each other's company?" You held Zoro's hand to your cheek. "Let me take care of you Zoro. You're always there for me, let me do the same," Zoro grunted as your flames ate away at the wound to his stomach.

"(Y/n) what are you doing?" Zoro found the heat unbearable.

"Healing you," you claimed. Zoro, not very persuaded that you were healing his wounds after that same exact display ended in Kitetsu's demise, the burn mellowed out into a comforting tingle that danced across his stomach. Your powers just seemed to grow and grow. "Please Don't leave me again Zoro," you plead with glossy eyes.

"I'll protect you even if my life depends on it."

You didn't have eyes of a hawk, you had eyes of a phoenix and a heart of gold that belonged to the swordsman in green.

Farewell to a wonderful book series. I hope you all enjoyed Eyes of a Hawk as well as this sequel: Two-Track Heart. This was a thrilling and unique writing experience.

Now I am calling any of you who are My Hero Academia fans to my newest book to make up for the end of this one. It is called Fleet Enmity: Tenya Iida x Reader. I hope you enjoy this next book!