An Encounter With The King

Torture Training

I leaned heavily against the railing, breathing hard and greatsword dangling loosely in my hand.
Mihawk was making damn sure I made up for the two months I'd been gone. Normally, he'd use that pesky dagger he was deadly with, but the past week he'd been using Yoru and he was terrifying with it! Feeling a hand grab the back of my shirt, I yelped as I was dragged away from the railing.
“I'm not done with you yet, quit slacking,” Mihawk ordered.
“Uncle Mihaaaawk, I'm tiiiirrred. Can't we take a break?” I whined.
“You had two months worth of break, stop complaining.”
With a loud groan, I reluctantly stood up and prepared for practice again. I charged at Mihawk and went to slash at his shoulder.
He simply swatted me aside like a fly. “You're getting sloppy, Phoenix. Do it again,” he instructed.
“I'm sloppy because I'm tired!” I protested.
“You'll never get anywhere with your current skills. If you actually want to learn swordsmanship from me, you have to do better than that. Now, come at me again.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I said 'no’. I'm not going to get any better so I'm giving up.” Dropping my greatsword, I turned and began walking away.
“You'll remain weak if you walk away,” Mihawk called after me.
“I don't care, I have the others to protect me!”
“Do you really think they'll always be there for you? You think they'll always have time to look after a weak crewmate like you?”
“I don't care if they give up on me, I'd rather die than hold them back.”
“Trafalgar should've left you on that blizzardy island.”
I stopped at that and turned back. “Excuse me?” I demanded.
“You heard me,” he replied calmly.
“No, I don't think I did.”
“Trafalgar should've left you on that island he found you to die in the blizzard. You're weak and useless.”
I lashed out at the Shichibukai with my tetsugen and he blocked with his dagger. “Take. That. Back,” I hissed.
“No. You're weak, we both know that. The fact that you're giving up simply because I'm trying to get you to be better by giving you what you wanted means you're useless.”
I swung at him again. “I am not useless! The Heart Pirates eat because I cook for them. They have certain things because I clean up after them. They survive because I heal them whenever Law can't.”
“And yet you cannot defend them because you're too weak to fight! That is what makes you useless!”
With a low growl, I lashed out like a madman. “You think I don't know that? You think it doesn't eat away at me every day that if we ever get into a confrontation with the Marines I can't do anything to protect them? They're not just my crew, they're my family! I should be able to protect them the same way they've always protected me!” My tetsugen was knocked from my hand as Yoru was shoved inches from my carotid artery. “You have to use that passion and desire to protect them to get stronger. It's not just about skill, but also the desire and willingness to do it.” Mihawk lowered his sword before tossing me mine. “Now, show me what you can really do.”