His Shadow (One Piece | Reverse Harem)

Chapter 7 | "Eyes-san."

Chapter 7 | "Eyes-san."

"You."

Scarlett turned to see Mihawk looking at her under the brim of his hat. She found that the marines had aptly given him the appellation Hawk-Eyes. His golden orbs managed to shine even under the cover of his hat, as they fixated on her, almost like a hawk did its predator.

"You are not weak." The man stated factually.

Scarlett blinked slowly at that. She didn't know what she was supposed to answer to that as that came out of the left field. Was it supposed to be a compliment? Was he trying to accuse her of something?

"Uh, thank you...?" Scarlett couldn't help the slight upturned tone at the end of her sentence, "You are quite tough yourself, Eyes-san." The nickname had him blink back at her, but she didn't give him the time to think much of it as she bulldozed through with the thought that's been itching at the back of her mind.

"You know, you look somewhat familiar." Scarlett mentioned, her head cocking to the side, "But I can't seem to put a finger on it."

"I don't think I could say the same for you, miss." The swordsman returned, which... was understandable. She was wearing quite the concealing outfit - what with the hood, mask, and all that jazz.

The woman then pondered for a moment before asking "Were you at the Pirate King's execution?"

Mihawk looked surprised, briefly caught off guard by her unexpected question, before finally nodding. The movement drew out a sound of understanding from Scarlett.

"Hey, Hawk-Eyes!" A gruff voice interrupted them as Don Krieg made his presence known, unwilling to let himself be ignored any longer. "Why are you still talking to that chick? Didn't you come to take my life, the almighty ruler of East Blue, Don Krieg?" The very man boasted shamelessly - and rather stupidly, in Scarlett's opinion.

"Not really," Mihawk answered dismissively, not sparing him even a single glance, "I was just looking for something to kill some time, but it appears that my attention has been caught on something else." He said as he kept his gaze glued on her being, implicating that the something else he was talking about was her. And of course being the prideful idiot that he is, Krieg took offence in that.

The burly man started to loudly crack his neck, as though the mere sound of it was enough to intimidate the best swordsman in the world. "Well, you may have moved onto your next toy, but I'm tired of getting beaten." The captain of the Krieg Pirates huffed arrogantly before pointing all of his artilleries their way, "Die, you bitch!!"

Sighing in annoyance, Scarlett pulled Gōka out of its sheath and swerved the bullets askew. "You should learn to keep your mouth shut when the adults are talking." She clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she sent one particular large cannon his way.

Mihawk lifted a curious brow at her, focusing on the weapon instead of the explosion happening just ten feet away. "I've not the thought of meeting another wielder of a black blade in a place like this." He marvelled, giving her another once-over as he looked at her in a new light. "I do believe I have some time to spare. Would you care for a short match?" He had a glint in his eyes that she couldn't decipher.

Though conscious of everyone's eyes on them, the prospect of getting the chance to go against the best without either of them ending up dead does not come often. And Scarlett, who had been relatively inactive from the lack of worthy opponent in the weakest part of the seas, itched for some action.

"It would be an honour." Scarlett accepted without much thought, "However, would it be possible to spar elsewhere? I wouldn't want the restaurant to take the brunts of any attacks that may just stray." She sent him an apologetic look that he somehow caught through just her eyes.