the hoof of the soaring dragon | ONE PIECE (discontinued)

Chapter 14 *

Following the departure of the men who had surrounded her in the recent weeks, Akira had remained seated on one of the many chairs that surrounded the now empty table. Even if Shanks had taken the time to dry her tears before his last goodbye, the young woman couldn't hide the puffiness of her eye when she was surprised by a sudden arrival.

"You're still here," said Mihawk who had come back to retrieve his glass of wine and the newspaper whose reading was cut short.

Akira jumped up as a form of politeness to show her respect to the man whose eyes didn't leave her figure as he took a sit on what could be called the main chair.

Guessing she wasn't going to react to his first statement, he asked "Did the pirates left?"

"Yes, they did just minutes ago" she responded as she took quick glances towards him.

"Why are you still here, then? Where are the other two?"

Taken aback by his questions, the new guest stuttered on her words trying to find a good enough answer "They took my luggage somewhere but I'm not sure where..." she looked up to meet his already staring eyes "Your house is pretty big so I was going to wait for them here until they come back. But I can leave if you want!"

He placed his glass back on the table and flip the page of the journal of the day which displayed on the front page exploit of a pirate rookie. Without removing his eyes from the page, he announced "You can stay"

It was true that Nana had explained to her that behind his somewhat intimidating appearance, Mihawk was a man possessing goodness that had allowed them to stay safe in his mansion. However, Akira couldn't help but question his sudden change of mind regarding the addition of a new guest.

"Shanks must have told him something," she thought as she remembered them having a private conversation. She gulped and decided that it was best to make this story clear now "I'm sorry for asking, but did Shanks told you something about me?"

Still immersed in the journal, it took several seconds for Mihawk to answer "Nothing that I didn't know of" folding once again the journal he just finished reading the part he found interesting, he added "Those two talk a lot about you"

Those weren't lies, the discussion with Shanks had only been a continuity of information of which he already knew: her name, personality, appearance, or general situation...

Indeed, even if they had remained vague, the siblings had shared their admiration for the girl without really thinking about it although still avoiding crossing a certain line. Concerning their situations, given the state in which he had found them in the midst of humanoids, it didn't need a genius to understand it.

The only thing Shanks had managed to create in his old rivals was an interest for the young woman.

"I'm just asking you to let her live here until she's ready to leave the island. Your castle is the only place I'm sure she'll be safe" explained the red-haired man with an unusually severe expression.

"It's rare to see you so worked up over someone. Who is she to you, Akagami?"

Chuckling at his questions, Shanks rubbed the back of his neck and stated "I guess I seem a bit overprotective but..." he got up from one of the armchairs they had settled on. His cold eyes looking down at Mihawk, he added "She's a dear friend of mine."

It's been years since the start of their rivalry, seeing shanks this serious wasn't a first. However, it was rare for the captain to attempt to intimidate him into doing something. A failed attempt actually.