Maelstrom

Chapter 54

Ruse's POV

After you and Mihawk had hauled ass away from the marine headquarters, you wisely decided to keep your mouth shut, not warning to risk the danger of being thrown overboard by your teacher.

He was fickle enough to do something like that, having already experienced similar treatment, you shivered slightly as you stared out at the sea.

It was quiet, serene, the calm before the storm.

Mihawk kept quiet as well, though you had guessed he was likely sleeping in favor of conversing with you, you shrug as you settle into a comfortable position, readying yourself for watch as you make your way back to Gloomy Island, praying that the punishment your teacher gave you would be lenient.

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Arriving at Gloomy Island, you quietly step off the raft, demurely making your way up to the mansion as Mihawk follows behind you, silence heavy between the two of you as you continue to walk.

Finally, Mihawk's voice breaks the tense atmosphere around the two of you as you strain your ears to hear him mumble something inaudible.

"What was that Shishō?" You reply, turning around to face the amber-eyed swordsman with a hint of interest in your voice.

"I said, 'A shame you didn't fall overboard on the way back, would've saved some trouble' Argenti." He replies to you, his sardonic timbre vibrating with barely concealed frustration.

You gulp nervously as you whip back around, choosing not to comment, not because you were scared of Mihawk, pssh you? Scared? No way. Ha, ha. Totally not. Against your better judgement though, you continue to walk forwards to the gates of Hell.

Also known as the mansion where you were going to get your furry ass handed to you. You were tempted very briefly to just book it as soon as your feet touched land, but feeling a sudden cold aura from behind you before you leapt off the raft you had decided against that.

Mihawk was walking behind you, still grumbling and throwing off handed comments that on a normal day you would've fought him for. Or at least tried to fight him, you were still a few leagues behind that man with your training level where it was at now.

Listening to your teacher your internal musings started to get the better of you as you try to bite your tongue. Knowing that the better option was to not reply to your teacher's less than ideal moodiness, but frustratingly enough your damn pride always got in the way of rational thinking. Sometimes you wondered if it was a defect, maybe there was a chemical imbalance in your brain, but who really knew?

"...Someone's still in a bad mood..." You grumble back, cursing your witty attitude as soon as the words leave your mouth.

The sounds of footsteps stop, twigs that were originally snapping behind you now eerily quiet. No rustling from the brush, no crunching of leaves, no swearing and grumbling from behind you.

Just silence.

Your heart falters a beat before you inhale slowly, turning to face your teacher as your golden eyes widen at what you saw.

Mihawk was stock still, his posture bent over slightly, fists clenched tightly against his sides as you meet glowing amber eyes, the sheer amount of emotions coming from this man were...well...rather frightening.

You gulp nervously as you start to feel sweat drip down your neck, your pupils enlarging as you see the swordsman lift one hand towards you, gesturing for you to stop. You already had, frozen from the aura emanating from this man. You could feel your legs shaking slightly as you feel a shiver run up your spine.

Mihawk looks at you, raising his head slightly, the same hand he had gestured at you to halt was now gesturing something else. A 'come hither' motion, as in he wanted you to come closer.

Hell's horns, you were gonna die.

He wanted you to willingly walk into the den of a lion, to simply walk up to him as if you hadn't seen the sheer amount of aura, or maybe it was Haki, who knew? That was coming from him, and he wanted you to come closer?

Ahahaha, that was comical.

So you did what any sane person would do.

You took one step forward, as if complying with the Swordmaster, keeping your eyes trained on him as he grins at you.

Your heart thunders in your ears as you take another step. There's still a fair amount of distance between the two of you. One more step, cautious and carefully placed, still not taking your eyes off of the predator in front of you.

He resembled a lion baiting his prey forward to his awaiting jaws, though instead of hunger it was a well of frustrations and rage. Although instead of jaws, it would be a storm of blades and biting commentary.

One more step.

You inhale a quick breath, preparing your muscles and joints for their strenuous actions they're about to take.

And then you pivot your foot, seeing a look of disbelief flash across Mihawk's face as you turned so fast you almost got whiplash.

You run for your life.

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