The Stongest Swordsman!

"...So that's what happened, Red," Zoro tells him, gazing off at the horizon, half-empty bottle held in his hand. "That's why I've gotta become the worlds best." Run turns to recline against the railing of the Merry, offering a nod in understanding. The two enjoy a comfortable silence for several moments before it's rather violently interrupted by the blast of a cannon, echoing out across the open sea. Both men quickly jerk their heads in the direction of the shot. "What in the hell?"

"Was that one of ours?" Run wonders aloud. Deciding that it would be best if they didn't just let it go the two head in the direction of the boom. They find Luffy and Usopp standing behind one of the ships cannons, their straw-hatted captain scratching his head as he stares at it. "Oi, Luffy, you could at least have told us that you were going to test fire the cannons."

"Huh? Aah, sorry," replies Luffy nonchalantly. "See, I found these cannon balls and I thought it would be a good idea to test fire them but I can't seem to get the angle right." Immediately bragging about his skill, Usopp steps up to the cannon. After reloading, and adjusting, he fires off another shot, and succeeds in completely destroying a large rock jutting up out of the water. "Aaah! Amazing! You hit it on your first shot!"

"Haha! Naturally!" boasts Usopp, grinning. "What do you think? Pretty good, right?"

"Amazing! I've decided that you're going to be our marksman!" It isn't long after that they head in to grab a bite to eat...and in the case of Zoro and Run, stop drinking and sober up slightly. All of them are sitting at the table, eating a rather simple meal compared to what they were used to from the towns and villages. "So, now we have a navigator, and a marksman, our own ship and our own flag. But there's one more thing that we need before we head off to the Grand Line!"

"A shipwright? Or maybe a doctor?" ventures Run.

"Nope! But it's just as necessary for a long voyage! A musician!"

"Are you an idiot?!" demands Nami. "If anything we need a cook before we need a musician! Just what do you see this voyage as?!" From outside on the deck, a loud crash attracts their attention followed immediately by an even louder voice.

"COME OUT!" bellows an angry voice. "YOU DAMN PIRATES! COME OUT AND FACE ME!"

"What the hell?!" calls Luffy jumping to his feet and all but battering down the door out of the kitchen. "Who are you?!"

"Who am I?! Is that really the first question you ask someone you just tried to kill?!" The man lunges at Luffy who dodges his sword but unfortunately he destroys a part of the hand railing. "I've slain hundreds of pirates, do you honestly believes some nameless pirates like you are going to kill me and my partner?!" The man raises his blade again, only to be blind-sided from behind. A foot drives into his rear end, causing him to stagger forward on unsteady feet and smash face first into the wall opposite them.

"Stop wrecking up the...ship," Run says, watching the man fall backwards and land spread eagle on the deck. "I swear that wasn't what I intended."

"What do you think he was talking about?" Luffy questions him.

"No idea."

"That voice...that you, Johnny?" calls Zoro, stepping out onto the deck.

"B-Big brother!" exclaims the man, staring up at Zoro.

"Hey...where's Yosaku? He's always with you, isn't he?" To say that this question upset the man would be an understatement but he managed to blubber out something sounding like 'He's sick' before running over to the edge of the deck...

After getting the man off of the small boat and onto the ship, they lay him out on the deck and Johnny begins to explain what is wrong. His teeth are falling out, an old wound has opened and is bleeding again. He appears to be in bad shape over-all. "I...I don't know what to do!" Johnny tells them, panicking.

"Are those the only symptoms?" Run questions the man, kneeling down beside him. Nami kneels beside him and surprises him by reaching out and forcibly opening Yosaku's mouth to take a better look. "Spotted tongue and-"

"Swollen red gums," Nami finishes. "Go get the limes from the kitchen." Luffy and Usopp run off to the kitchen, and return with a crate of limes which they promptly squeeze into the opened mouth of Yosaku at the urging of Nami. "It looks like he's developed scurvy. If that's all he's got then he should be back on his feet soon."

"Scurvy?" echos Johnny, looking at the woman.

"It's a disease that mainly affects sailors and pirates as a result of a poor diet at sea. It used to be something that was just widely accepted as part of long voyages but since it's become easier to keep fresh fruits and vegetables, it's not as common anymore." Luffy and Usopp stare at the red head in a stunned silence. "What?" Luffy suddenly breaks out in a wide grin.

"Man, you sure know a lot, huh, Run!" laughs Luffy.

"Everyone should know at least this much!" Nami shouts back at him. "You could die if you don't!"

"We should probably recruit a doctor, Luffy," Run tells him. "Things will only get more dangerous once we're on the Grand Line."

"It probably wouldn't be a bad idea," Zoro agrees. "I guess that even something like not eating right can be a problem if you intend to spend a long time out at sea." Then, suddenly, the man was on his feet, seemingly revived by the limes and their juice that had practically just been force-fed to him. He was dancing around with Johnny like nothing had happened, and then the two stop and face them squarely.

"I am Johnny!" explains Johnny.

"And I am Yosaku!" adds the other man. The two barely managed a short conversation with Zoro before Yosaku passed out again, falling face first to the deck. A short panic followed but upon being assured by Nami that he would just need to rest and get some more vitamins. So, they took him inside and laid him out on one of the bed to rest before returning to the same room they had been in before the two boarded the ship. The rest of the day was spent keeping him recovering and eating fruit, and by the time night had fallen he was resting comfortably.

"This should serve as a lesson," Nami tells them all. "Even just being out at sea for too long can be dangerous."

"So, what we need is a way to properly manage our own nutrition," Run asserts, lifting his coffee mug to take a sip. "I took inventory after we set sail, and we have everything we need but I'm no chef."

"Then, we should find ourselves a cook!" asserts Luffy, grinning. "That's definitely someone who could something like that!"

"Aaah! That's perfect!" agrees Usopp. "Then we could eat all the great food we want!"

"A cook, huh?" Johnny questions them. "Well, if you're really looking for one then I know the perfect place for you to find one!" Johnny explained to them that it was a floating restaurant, The Sea Baratie, that at the moment was close to the Grand Line, and was a place that kept only the finest of chef's in it's employ. "And, big bro, you know I've heard rumors that the 'Hawk-Eyed Man' you've been looking for has been seen around that place." A huge grin split's Zoro's face in response...while a sinking feeling fills Run's gut. "We'll head North-Northeast!"

"Mihawk?" mumbles Run. "What's he doing away from the Grand Line...?"

----

And so they followed Johnny's directions, sailing for several days before finally the restaurant came into view on the horizon...and was it ever a sight to see. Everyone gathers at the bow of the Going Merry to stare at the restaurant in curiosity. "It's a fish," Run observes, staring at the floating restaurant. "Huh."

"Yeah, a huge fish!" adds Luffy, drooling as he stares at it. The ringing of bells and alarms attracts their attention to a ship that quickly gains on them, and then slows to begin sailing in tandem with the Merry. "What the...?"

"Marines," observes Usopp. "S-Surely they won't open fire on us, right?"

"Talk about bad luck," mumbles Zoro.

"Where do you think they came from?" Luffy wonders aloud, earning a shrug of the shoulders from both Zoro and Run in response. As if on cue, a pink haired man in a pin-striped suit leaves the cabin of the ship, and approaches the port side of the ship to observe the Going Merry.

"You there!" calls the pink haired man. "I am 'Iron Fist' Fullbody, a Lieutenant of Navy Headquarters! Where's your Captain?! Tell him to come out and state his name!"

"I'm Luffy!" calls back Luffy, interrupting him. "I'm the Captain of this ship! We just made our flag!" The red-head gently pinches the bridge of his nose in response.

"Just made it? How amusing! So then, you're just a bunch of newbies." He finally seems to take notice of Johnny and Yosaku. "You two...aren't you the two the small-time bounty hunters that have been running around here targeting small fry? What? Your luck must have finally run out for you to end up in the hands of a bunch of pirates." Naturally, the two men aren't exactly going to simply stand there and take it on and chin. Johnny reaches into the folds of his jacket and pulls out a stack of fliers.

"You bastard!" shouts Johnny, scattering the fliers across the deck of the Merry. "You think small-time bounty hunters would go after these guys?!"

"Why are all the Marines we keep bumping into total dicks?" Run asks, watching as Fullbody turns and walks away from the railing...even going so far as to order his men to sink the Merry. "Oh, you really are a dick!" The Marines level the cannon of the ship, and Luffy grins in response and jumps up on the edge of the railing. Out of the corner of his eye Run notices Nami kneeling on the deck, clutching a poster in her hand and staring very intently at it. With his curiosity getting the better of him he approaches their navigator, slowing to a stop several steps behind her when he notices her slightly shaking shoulders and unsteady breathing. He hears an explosion, but doesn't pay it much mind since the Marines have the full attention of Luffy and Zoro...and Usopp.

"Nami," whispers Run, crouching down at her side but not earning her attention. "Nami?" When he reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder she jumps in surprise. Run quickly removes his hand and holds both up in front of him, and she crumples the paper and rounds on him. "Sorry, I didn't mean you startle you." Her eyes dart to the paper and then back to the red head who offers her a gentle smile. "Are you alright?"

"I'm nothing," Nami tells him, slowly standing. "Also...don't touch me so casually, pirate."

"Well, my apologies," Run chuckles, standing now as well. "You know, the least you could do is call me 'Red' if you aren't going to call me by my name. I'm starting to become kind of fond of that little nickname." Run finally turns towards the noise he'd heard earlier and his eyes widen as he stares at the plume of smoke coming from the roof of the restaurant. "What...the hell?" Nami and Run both make their way back to the upper deck and stare at the restaurant before looking at Luffy who is sitting on the figure-head, shoulders slumped down. "I...I don't even...just...I mean...how...?"

"M...My hand slipped," Luffy finally mumbles, staring at the damaged restaurant. "Do you think I should go apologize?"

"That would most definitely be a good start. But...they're gonna be awfully pissed, Luffy."

"Aaah! Our one chance at getting ourselves a cook!" Luffy jumps to his feet and cocks back. "I'm going, Run! Look after the ship!" He launches an arm towards the restaurant, and catapults himself towards it moments later...

----

They wait patiently for the return of Luffy, mostly in silence and chatting only occasionally. Under the watchful gaze of Zoro and Run, Johnny and Yosaku go about repairing the damage done to the Going Merry. "Do you think that Luffy is going to be ok?" Usopp wonders aloud. "What do you think they'll do to him? Maybe chores for a month or something?"

"Whatever it is Luffy can handle it, I'm sure," Zoro tells them, relaxing against the rail of the ship. Run turns his gaze from Johnny and Yosaku to Nami. She hasn't said much since staring at the poster, and the few times that she'd met his eyes he could see something in them...fear maybe? Something is eating away at their navigator, and while he's tried to broach the topic twice already both times it's only resulted in an ear full to mind his own business. So, unfortunately, all he can do is just let it be. "Hey, Run! If all we're going to do is wait around, then let's go get something to eat, huh?"

"Aah, why not? I'm starved, too," agrees Run. They lower a small boat and then row to the restaurant in the distance. They've only just moored their boat when shouting, crashing and even a gunshot sound from within the restaurant. "What in the hell?" They circle around the outside of the restaurant and open the doors...and they are treated to an amazing sight. Iron Fist is lying on the ground, beaten up, another man is lying in a crumpled heap, covered by the debris of what seems like a table and Luffy...Luffy is being beaten by a gentleman of the peg-legged persuasion.

"What the hell?" ask all four in unison.

"I...I don't even...let's just...find a table." Deciding that it's best to not get involved just yet they all take a seat at an empty table and place their orders.

"This place is pretty wild," Usopp mutters, looking around at some of the damage done by the fighting. It isn't long before their food arrives, in fact, it's almost perfectly timed to the arrival of Luffy who makes his way out of the kitchen. They begin teasing their Captain almost instantly with Zoro even going so far as asking if they could redraw the flag to their own symbol since Luffy is going to be here for a long time.

"Oi, don't worry too much about it, Luffy," Run tells him, smiling. "I'll remember you while we're sailing the Grand Line."

"You bastard, how could you?!" demands Luffy. "And how can you eat all this delicious food without me?!"

"Well, isn't the point of living life to relax and do as you please?" Even if Luffy tries to be sneaky, Run see's him dig in his nose and drop a booger into his glass of water. "And as for the food, I'm not a cruel man..." He picks up the glass of water. "...so, I'll let you have the first taste!" He pours the glass of water down the man's throat, much to the amusement of the crew and disgust of the other customers. "How could you do something like that out in public? C'mon, show some manners!" Not one to let someone get the better of him, Luffy launches himself at Run who catches his wrists quickly with a big grin. "Luffy! Now's not a good place for a wrestling match!"

The two men are wrapped up in the little scrap, at least until a blond man with strange swirling eyebrows arrives at their table. His lines are...well, some of the corniest stuff that any of them have heard in their lives and Nami seemed to be less than impressed with all of it. He even goes so far as to tell her that he would give up working at the restaurant and become a pirate if not for something holding him back. His spiel continues for some time, at least until the same peg-legged man from earlier appeared in the dinning room, telling him that he should just leave and become a pirate. Rather than agree with him, this began an argument between the two which eventually culminated into a fight. The waiter, who they now know to be Sanji, is thrown into their table but thankfully they save all the food.

"Alright! That sounded like permission to me!" Luffy tells him, grinning like a fool. "How about becoming our chef?"

"No way!" Sanji screams back. He immediately fixes the table and then pours a glass of wine for Nami to begin his flirting once more, even offering her free food and drink.

"Well, I'm not gonna turn away a free meal," Run says, picking up a menu.

"Yours isn't free."

"Don't be stingy." Usopp immediately get's into an argument with him over the unequal treatment but the others ignore it, including Luffy who laughs until Sanji hits him in the head and drags him back off towards the kitchen. "We'll wait for you to finish here, Luffy. Just hurry up, huh...?"

----

"Maaaan, I can't believe four days have passed," complains Usopp, leaning against the railing of the ship. "When can we leave?"

"We'll leave when Luffy is finished with his chores," Run tells him, reclining in a deck chair. While the rest of the crew may have found it difficult to pass the down time, Run has been busy lounging about in the sun only to be interrupted by occasional naps and late night party's with the restaurant cooks and patrons. "Until then, just try to relax and enjoy the down time."

"I think you've been enjoying it enough for all of us," Nami mutters, earning a chuckle from the red head.

"What the point of life if not to have a good time?"

"It's certainly not to get-"

"Uhhh...everyone?" calls Usopp suddenly, earning their attention to the pointing man. "Ship." They follow his line of sight and all stare in amazement. It's a huge galleon...although, it's covered in the scars of battle, and barely floating. The red-head quickly stands from the deck chair and approaches the bow of the ship as the ruckus grows in volume.

"Oh, boy, I'm sure this isn't good," Run tells them, walking towards the edge of the deck. "Nami, watch the ship. I'm sure Luffy is mixed up in this." He promptly leaps over, landing on the dock with Zoro following and dragging Usopp behind him without much resistance. All the way through the back entrance they can hear yelling from within the restaurant, someone declaring himself as being the 'strongest man' and being the only man worthy of being called 'Don'...whatever that means. And above all of that, Luffy's voice breaks out loud and clear.

"I'm the one who's gonna be King of the Pirates!" declares Luffy, as they finally descend the stairs, finding him facing off with a man in golden armor. "I'm gonna conquer the Grand Line, so I can't back down on this!"

"Never a dull moment, huh, Luffy!" calls Run, earning his attention.

"You gonna fight him?" asks Zoro, gripping the tsuka of one of his katana's. "Want us to help?"

"I've got this covered," Luffy tells them, grinning. "You guys can just relax." The man in golden armor began to laugh as he stared at them.

"That's your crew?" he laughs. "Just three guys?"

"No way! I've got two more!" Sanji immediately denies this claim much to Luffy's irritation. The man stares at those assembled for a moment before grabbing the large sack in front of him, and slinging it over his shoulder. He declares that he will be back as soon as he's fed his crew, and that he'll kill anyone who hasn't fled when he returns. This spawns an argument among the cooks, all of whom berate Sanji for feeding the man, Ghin, as they'd heard him called, to begin with.

The owner, Zeff, immediately silences them, asking if any of them knew what it was like to be near starvation and have nothing at all to eat. After they had quieted down, Zeff told them to leave...but rather than heed his command, they decided that they would stand up and fight...Sanji was very adamant about it.

"Oi, Ghin, you've been to the Grand Line, right?" Luffy asks the man. "What's it like?" His face immediately loses all color, and he begins to mutter softly.

"I...I don't know," Ghin tells him. "I don't know if it was a dream or reality but...our entire fleet...it was destroyed by a single man." Everyone stares in shock...everyone but Run that is who turns his head up as if in thought. "I'll never forget it as long as I live. That man's eyes...those piercing eyes, just like a hawks. When he looked at you...it was like the chill of death falling on you."

"Aah, well, that explains the cuts on the ships then," speaks Run simply. "Seems to me that you fellas had the misfortune of crossing paths with Dracule 'Hawk Eyes' Mihawk." Zoro's eyes widen in surprise as he turns to face his comrade. "It was just bad luck."

"Eh? Run, you know this guy?" Luffy asks.

"You could say that, Luffy."

"Is it possible that you guys did something to make him hold a grudge against you?" Sanji questions them.

"Could be that. Could be that you disturbed his nap...or could just be outta sheer boredom."

"DON'T FUCK WITH ME!" explodes Ghin. "Who would destroy an entire fleet out of boredom?!" Zeff informs the man that it was just an example...before turning to face Run who stares down at him calmly his face unreadable even to his oldest friend.

"Even so...I'm surprised that you know so much about this man," Zeff says calmly. "Color me curious. Mind explaining?"

"I think an explanation is a good idea, Run," agrees Zoro, facing the red-head squarely.

"Mihawk and Shanks are...were rivals," Run tells them all calmly. "Whenever either of them got too bored, they would seek out the other for a duel. I remember it being like something out of a story book. Their duels would last days before they finally called an end to it."

"I don't get it," mutters Usopp. "If he can duel against someone that strong then why destroy their fleet?"

"Well, like I said it could have been out of sheer boredom. The old man was left handed...some thing's happened and he ended up losing his left arm." Luffy's head lowers sightly, and he shifts his hat to hide his eyes. "Mihawk is an honorable sort...he probably won't ever duel my father again, so more than likely he's just wandering the Grand Line looking for something to liven things up." He shifts his gaze to the kneeling pirate. "Like I said, Ghin, it was nothing but bad-luck, that's all."

"So...that's the strength of the 'Worlds Strongest Swordsman'," speaks Zoro. "The power to destroy an entire island. Hmph, even if that's all true...I've still got my own ambition to follow."

"Wasn't my intention to deter you, Zoro. Just giving you the facts." A sudden loud explosion pierces the air, and the ship shudders violently as a result for several long moments. "Whoa! What in the hell?" Getting their footing once again, they make their way outside only to find the giant galleon cut into pieces. Through the spray of the sea and the pieces of the galleon, Run easily spots it...the green flame, the coffin-shaped ship, and the black sail. "Mihawk." Hearing someone yelling for Zoro, they all look towards the water to see Johnny and Yosaku swimming towards them. They fish the two out of the sea and sit them down on the deck. "Any particular reason you two decided to go for a swim?"

"She took it!" exclaims Johnny. "Nami stole your ship! She stole the Going Merry!"

"What?!" exclaim all four in unison.

"Of all times!" growls Zoro.

"Oi! I see it!" bellows Luffy, pointing towards the horizon. "I can still see the Going Merry!"

"We should still be able to over take her it if we can find a ship," reasons Run. "You two still have yours, right?" Johnny and Yosaku immediately jump to their feet, and go about getting their ship ready to sail. "Good. Let's go. You coming, Luffy?" He responds with a shake of his head.

"No, I still have to finish paying my debt here. I'll leave it to you to bring them back, Run."

"DON KRIEG! IT'S HIM!" bellows a man from on-board what remains of the galleon. "THE MAN WHO DESTROYED OUR FLEET!" Zoro immediately turns to face him, locking onto the small ship moving through the floating debris that was once the mighty galleon.

"That man...it's him," growls Zoro.

"I know you want to fight him," begins Run. "But now's the wrong time and place, Zoro. He's not going anywhere but the Merry-" One of Krieg's men produced a pair of pistols and fired at the man, only to have his bullets deflected without any effort. "-is very rapidly leaving us behind." The swordsman ignores his words entirely, walking through the crowd gathered around the remains of the galleon and stepping out into the fore front of everything. "Aww, here we go."

"He deflected the bullets with his sword...I've never seen a sword moved so elegantly." Mihawk calmly turns his crimson eyes on Zoro.

"There's no strength in swordsmanship based solely on force," Mihawk tells him plainly. Zoro looks around at the destruction for a moment before grinning broadly.

"Are you the one who cut this ship in half as well?"

"That's correct."

"I see. You really are the strongest. I set sail for the sole purpose of meeting you."

"What is it exactly that you hope to accomplish?"

"I'm going to become the strongest!" Zoro dons his bandana and draws his sword to point it at Mihawk. "You've got free time, right? Let's fight!" Mihawk stands, and with little effort leaps from his ship to the remains of the galleon to face off the the Swordsman. He reaches up, and tears off the cross he's wearing as a necklace, only to remove the bottom and reveal a small blade. "Oi, what in the hell is that thing?"

"Hm? You wouldn't swat a fly with a sledge-hammer, would you? Regretfully, I don't carry a smaller blade than this. My apologies."

"You think I'm just gonna sit idly by while you make fun of me?" He charges forward, swords at the ready to deal what he believes to be an instant death. "Oni Giri!" The clash of steel on steel can be heard from where Luffy and the rest of crew are standing, though it takes a moment for them to realize that the man has stopped Zoro's three blades with the tiny dagger he has. Zoro breaks free moments later, and began slashing wildly, moving as fast as he could manage. "There's no way we're this far apart!"

"Such ferocity." What Mihawk didn't parry, or block, he dodged until Zoro was left exhausted and panting like he'd run a marathon. "What do you desire once you've obtained power, weak one? What do you carry on your shoulders?"

"No one calls our Big Bro weak!" growls Yosaku.

"I'll teach you a lesson!" bellows Johnny, as the two draw their swords. They make in his direction but take only a few steps before Run grabs them both and throws them flat on their backs with ease.

"If you two value your lives you'll stay put," Run tells them very seriously. Zoro charges the man, and rather than the attack they were expecting, he's stabbed in the chest by Mihawk. He doesn't move in the slightest, doesn't recoil or flinch.

"Are you simply going to stand there and allow me to pierce your heart?" Mihawk asks him. "Aren't you planning to at least withdraw?"

"I don't know," Zoro tells him. "I don't know exactly why but I feel as though if I take even a single step back, I'll be trampling on every promise and pledge I've made up to this point. I feel like I won't be able to come back to where I am if I do that."

"That is defeat."

"If that's the case...then I'd rather die!"

Mihawk withdraws the blade, and steps back to sheathe the small blade. "Kid. Tell me your name."

"Roronoa Zoro."

"I'll remember that." He reaches back, and draws his black sword. "As a sign of courtesy, I'll end your life with the worlds strongest black blade!"

"Three Swords Style! Three Thousand Worlds!" The two pass each other, attacking in unison...but only Zoro is hurt, all but one of his swords shattering and a huge wound appearing on his chest. He calmly sheathes his remaining sword, and turns to face Mihawk before holding his arms out wide. "Scars on the back are a swordsmans greatests shame."

"Admirable." A single precise slash, from shoulder follows seconds later and Zoro pitches backwards into the sea in a spray of blood. Run surges forward quickly and dives into the sea to a chorus of screams. He disappears beneath the waves, reappearing moments later with and coughing and sputtering Zoro held tightly. "Run. It's been a while since I last saw you." The red head immediately turns his attention to Mihawk, and Luffy who is trying to pull himself free from the wall behind him. "Your father mentioned you and that woman had left the crew to pursue your own ambitions."

"Run! Quick!" shouts Usopp approaching in a small skiff. "Pull him in!" Several pairs of hands reach down to grasp the two men, hauling them up and onto the deck. Usopp, Yosaku and Johnny dash about, gathering medicine and supplies to treat his wounds.

"Calm yourselves. The wound I inflicted won't be fatal. I never intended it to be...and besides that he's got far too much fight in him for it to be."

"You don't think you took it a little far, Mihawk?" Run questions him.

"There's no point to a battle no fought to the best of one's abilities." Luffy finally manages to get himself unstuck and Mihawk crosses his arms. "Listen well, Roronoa Zoro, it is far too early for you to die! My name is Dracule Mihawk! Go out into the world! Learn about it! Learn about yourself! Train, and grow stronger, and stronger still! No matter how many years it takes, I will hold the seat of the Worlds Strongest, and await your return! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!" In stunned silence everyone watches as Zoro thrusts his sword into the sky.

"Luffy!" bellows Zoro. "Can you hear me?! I...I'm sorry that I lost!"

"B-Bro, stop speaking! Save your strength!" pleads Yosaku.

"I SWEAR! UNTIL I CAN BEAT HIM, I WON'T LOSE TO ANYONE ELSE EVER AGAIN! IS THAT OKAY...KING OF THE PIRATES?!"

"That's fine!" calls back Luffy, grinning. Just as Mihawk began to walk away, Kreig decided that that exact moment would be a good time to challenge him. He lept down from his hiding place, and asked if he was here for him...but when the man responded in the negative, Kreig actually shot at him with his back turned. Mihawk blocked with ease, slicing up another part of the ship and sea to conceal his withdrawl. "Run! Take Zoro and Usopp and go after Nami!"

"What about you?" calls Run back.

"I'll catch up after I've settled the debt here! Just go get Nami and the Going Merry! I'm counting on you!"

"Got it!" Run gives him a thumbs up as they set sail in the direction of their ship. "Usopp, make sure that we don't lose sight of the Going Merry. Johnny, Yosaku, look after Zoro. Let's bring back Nami and the ship..."