The Day It All Began (Mihawk X Shanks)

Chapter 4: The Long Awaited Duel

It wasn't just friendship. It was deeper than that.
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Shanks walked out into the open to face Mihawk. He had a mixed feeling about looking at him. He was nervous, yet he was also greeted by a sense of familiarity.

"Haha guess you found me..." Shanks said as he walked out with his hands up. He couldn't stop himself from staring at the other man's body.

"Enjoying the view?" Mihawk replied back with a grin on his face.

"I.. I wasn't looking at it in that way! I was just... Looking at your scars. It seems fairly new, that's all." Shanks quickly replied blushing.

"Ah, you mean this? I was fighting the alpha beast of the jungle and he left a nasty mark. I assume you're here for a duel, no?" Mihawk said while he gently brushed at his scar on his chest.

"Of course! I can assure you I'm stronger than I was before!" Shanks replied as he took out his sword.

Mihawk walked over to the boulder where the sword laid, and he grabbed it.

Both man got into a fighting position and readied themselves.

It was Shanks who made the first move. As the red haired man dashed with his sword, Mihawk prepared himself to block. He gulped nervously as Shanks approached. Then... Shanks fainted.

"What? Hey are you alright? Shanks!"

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Shanks woke up with a headache. "Huh? Where... Wait what happened?"

"That's what I'd like to ask you idiot." Mihawk quietly said as he drank water.

Shanks sat up but lost his balance. He gave up trying to sit up and just lied down.

"I don't know... Maybe it's that stupid bug that bit me while I was sailing here. See?" Shanks rolled up his sleeves to show Mihawk his bite mark.

"You idiot! Did you get bit by a oosusumebachi ?! Those things can kill you with a sting! You have to get the venom out now!" Mihawk exclaimed as he quickly went over to the lying man.

"Oh don't worry I got most of the venom out... I think. I mean I probably did?" Shanks chuckled. He felt fine. At least to him it felt like it.

Mihawk sighed. "How do you even get through living when you're this clueless?"

Shanks shrugged. "The venom probably faded away by now. Hey let's have a duel now!"

He tried to stand up, only to fall, at which Mihawk stepped in to support him.

"Look. You're not well enough to fight. Rest for now and we'll fight tomorrow, ok?" Mihawk said worriedly. He then swept Shanks off his feet and walked to the direction of his hut.

"W..W...What are you doing? I can walk by myself! You don't have to carry me!" Shanks, who's face lit bright red, struggled to be free from Mihawk's grasp.

"No. You can't. You can't even sit up properly without wobbling. I'm taking you back to my hut so you can rest there. Stop trying to resist or else I'm going to leave you to crawl with the beasts. It's turning night time soon too." Mihawk replied back with a straight face.

"F..fine. Have it your way." Shanks pouted but gave up resisting.

Mihawk carried Shanks back to the hut and laid him in the bed. He then briefly went out to grab fresh water. He poured it into a cup then lifted it to Shanks's mouth, to which he drank without any complaints.

"You need to get some rest. The venom may have faded, but it's still in you." Mihawk told Shanks as he got up to prepare a temporary bed on the ground.

"I'm fine. I swear. Also, you can have the bed. It's yours anyways. I can sleep on the floor." Shanks replied back as he tried to get up.

"No. You came here to have a duel. I'm not fighting anyone who has a disadvantage against me." Mihawk got down and sat against the wall. "Just rest. I'll look out for the night."

"... Hey." Shanks said quietly to Mihawk.

"What is it?"

"... Nothing. Just... Thank you." Shanks turned to face away from Mihawk. He didn't want the swordsman to see his red face. "Good night."

Mihawk stayed up for as long as he could to look out for the both of them. He constantly looked back at Shanks sleeping soundlessly on the bed. The duel had to be delayed, but it wasn't too bad. At least he got to see the red haired man again.