Rain lashed against the windows of the small cottage nestled deep in the forested island.
Inside, a single lantern cast long shadows across rough wooden walls as Dracula Mihawk stood at the window, his hawk-like eyes scanning the darkness beyond.
One hand rested on the hilt of Yoru, the massive black blade that rarely left his side. The other hand twitched almost imperceptibly each time a cry of pain came from the adjacent room.
Mihawk's face remained impassive, betraying nothing of his thoughts. Yet he found himself counting the seconds between Elise's cries, calculating her endurance with the same precision he normally reserved for combat.
"Water! More clean water!" The village midwife's voice called out from behind the partially closed door.
Mihawk moved to the basin, filling another bowl before returning to the bedroom doorway.
The scene within had changed little in the past hours: Elise lay on the bed, golden hair darkened with sweat, face contorted in pain. The midwife worked well between whispered encouragements.
As he set down the water, Elise's eyes found his. Despite her exhaustion, she managed a small smile.
"Still standing guard?" she asked, voice strained but warm.
"Yes." A single word, yet Mihawk's tone carried an unusual softness, noticeable only to someone who knew him well.
Another contraction seized her, cutting off whatever she meant to say next. Mihawk's fingers tightened around Yoru's hilt, as if he could cut away her pain if only he could see it.
The midwife glanced up at him. "It won't be much longer now. The baby's coming."
Mihawk nodded once and returned to his vigil at the window.
The island had seemed secure when they'd arrived three months ago - remote enough to avoid casual discovery, yet close enough to civilization for Elise's needs.
He'd chosen it carefully, as he did all things.
But something had changed. He could feel it in the air, a distant pressure against his senses. They had been found.
As Elise cried out again, Mihawk's mind drifted back to their first meeting, nearly a year earlier...
--------------------
Flashback:
The port town had been unremarkable - one of countless stops along his solitary journey.
Mihawk had noticed the pirate crew immediately upon their arrival, his keen eyes recognizing their captain from a bounty poster.
The man's bounty wasn't impressive, but it would be enough for a decent meal and better wine than he'd had in weeks.
Mihawk had followed them into town, his tall figure drawing nervous glances from locals who sensed danger in his stride and the massive black blade on his back.
The pirates had been loud, boisterous, threatening the townsfolk. Mihawk had watched with cold detachment, waiting for the right moment.
When it came, his attack was swift and easy. The pirate crew scattered like insects, several falling to slashes before they could even draw their weapons.
Mihawk moved through them with minimal effort, not even bothering to fully unsheathe Yoru for such unworthy opponents.
"Why?" the captain had gasped, on his knees before Mihawk, blood seeping from a shallow cut across his chest. "Why are you doing this? We've done nothing to you!"
Mihawk had looked down at the man with disinterest. "Your bounty will buy me wine and a decent meal," he'd stated simply. "And I find myself rather bored today."
The blade had risen for the final strike when she stepped between them.
Mihawk had paused, not out of mercy but curiosity. The woman stood with her back straight, facing him without visible fear.
Her simple dress and work-worn hands marked her as a local. Golden hair framed a beautiful face that was slightly weathered by life's experiences.
"Move," Mihawk had commanded.
"I can offer you better food and finer wine than his bounty would buy," she'd replied, her voice steady despite standing before death itself.
Mihawk had studied her for a moment. "Step aside, woman. These men would have burned your town and made you their plaything."
"You're probably right," she'd acknowledged without flinching. "But killing them won't undo what they've done elsewhere or heal those wounds. They're captured now. Perhaps some might change given the chance."
Mihawk unbothored stared right into her eyes, asked. "And if they don't?"
Without hesitation, she'd responded: "Then you can behead them yourself."
This unexpected pragmatism beneath her compassion had caught his attention.
He thought her a naive fool like some others he's met during his time. It appeared she wasn't exactly that...
For the first time in years, someone who to him was as weak as an ant, if not weaker, had genuinely surprised him.
He'd sheathed his blade. Mihawk looked down at the captain who's pissed and shit himself, and his face imperceptibly crunched up in disgust, as he looked back at the woman.
"Your offer interests me more than dirtying my blade with this trash."
Later, in her modest home, she'd poured him wine of surprising quality. "From my own vines," she'd explained, noticing his appreciative glance at the glass. "Nothing fancy, but honest. Like most worthwhile things in life."
"You stepped before my blade knowing who I was," Mihawk stated, studying her across the small table.
"I know what they call you. The Marine Hunter." She met his gaze directly. "But a name isn't the same as knowing someone."
"Most would consider your actions foolish."
"Being scared doesn't help anybody. Being careful, now that's different. One freezes you, other keeps you moving forward."
Mihawk found himself speaking more than usual that night, intrigued by her unusual blend of compassion and clear-eyed pragmatism.
Days passed, and he remained in the small village longer than he'd stayed anywhere in years.
On the seventh day, as he'd prepared to leave, she'd asked simply: "Will you return someday?"
Mihawk had paused, an uncharacteristic hesitation before answering. "Perhaps."
He'd returned twice before learning of the child growing within her.
The news had frozen him momentarily.
"You don't need to stay," Elise had told him, practical as always. "I've raised myself just fine. I can raise a child too."
Mihawk had turned to the window, his back to her. "It's not that simple."
"Nothing worth doing ever is."
He'd turned back to her then, his eyes showing something new - concern. "My bloodline carries dangers you cannot imagine."
"Then we'll face them together," she'd replied simply. "Unless you're planning to run off?"
The ghost of a smile had touched his lips. "I do not run."
That night, he'd told her as much as he dared about his heritage, about why they would need to hide until the child was born.
Not everything - never everything - but enough that she understood the gravity of their situation.
In the months that followed, he'd found himself drawn into unfamiliar territory. He'd brought rare herbs for her garden, listened to her stories of village life, even allowed himself a rare laugh at her jokes.
Once, when she'd taken his hand and placed it on her growing belly to feel the child kick, something had stirred within him that he couldn't name.
---------------------------
A particularly agonized cry pulled Mihawk from his memories. He turned sharply from the window, moving to the bedroom doorway in three long strides.
"Something's wrong," the midwife muttered, her hands working frantically. "There's too much blood."
Elise's face had gone alarmingly pale, her breathing shallow and rapid. Her eyes found Mihawk's, fear visible for the first time.
"Save the baby," she managed between pained breaths.
Mihawk stepped into the room fully now, his presence filling the small space. "You will both live," he stated, as if his will alone could make it so.
The midwife looked up, startled by his tone. "The baby's coming now. I need your help."
For the next few minutes, Mihawk followed the midwife's instructions precisely, supporting Elise as she pushed with her remaining strength.
When the child finally emerged with an angry cry, Mihawk felt something shift in the world around him - as if the very fabric of reality had recognized a new presence.
"A boy," the midwife announced, quickly cleaning the infant before handing him to Mihawk.
Mihawk took the child with... uncertainty, his large hands awkward yet gentle. The boy's cries subsided as their eyes met - the infant's gaze holding a focus that seemed impossible for a newborn.
Then Mihawk felt it - a pulse of dark energy emanating from the child. His eyes narrowed as he saw it forming on the infant's skin: the Abyss Mark.
The sigil of Imu's bloodline glowed red, pulsing stronger with each of the child's heartbeats.
The air in the room grew heavy, shadows deepening in the corners despite the lantern's glow. The midwife backed away, eyes wide with instinctive fear of something she couldn't comprehend.
"Father," Mihawk acknowledged coldly as a presence formed behind him.
The apparition of Imu took shape - more presence than form, a suggestion of robes and eyes that saw too much. When it spoke, the voice seemed to bypass the ears and resonate directly in the mind.
"My son," Imu's voice carried neither warmth nor anger, only cold authority. "Your defiance continues to disappoint. Playing Marine Hunter, rejecting your birthright... these childish rebellions have been tolerated long enough."
Mihawk didn't turn to face the apparition, keeping his eyes on his son. "You have no claim on me or my child."
"Everything in this world is mine to claim," Imu responded. "But I can be lenient. Return to your proper place, bring my grandson, and your transgressions will be forgiven."
The baby in Mihawk's arms began to cry again as the Mark pulsed stronger, spreading tendrils across his tiny chest.
"I will never return to that gilded prison," Mihawk stated, finally turning to face his father's projection. "And neither will my son."
"You cannot fight what you are, Dracula," Imu's voice hardened. "The blood that flows in your veins - in his veins - is mine. The mark is merely its physical manifestation."
"Then I will burn it out," Mihawk declared, his eyes flashing with rare anger.
'Like I did my own,' unspoken, but heard.
He laid his son carefully on the bed beside Elise, who watched with confusion and growing fear. Placing his hand over the infant's chest where the mark pulsed strongest, Mihawk closed his eyes in concentration.
The air in the cabin grew heavier as Mihawk summoned his Conqueror's Haki - crimson energy flowing from his body and enveloping his son.
The baby's cries intensified as the two forces battled: Blood vs Will.
"Foolish child," Imu's voice grew colder. "You cannot erase what he is."
"I'm not erasing," Mihawk growled through clenched teeth, the veins on his forehead standing out with effort. "I'm freeing."
The crimson energy of Mihawk's Haki intensified, focusing on the mark.
With a final surge of will, Mihawk pushed everything he had into breaking his father's claim. The mark flared brilliantly before shattering like glass, dark fragments dissipating into nothing.
Imu's presence recoiled. "This changes nothing. He is still of my blood. And you have made a powerful enemy this day."
"You were never my ally," Mihawk responded, gathering his exhausted son into his arms.
As Imu's presence faded, his final words lingered in the air: "When next we meet, I will not be so merciful."
The oppressive atmosphere lifted, leaving only the sounds of the storm and the child's quieting cries. Mihawk turned to find Elise watching him, her face alarmingly pale.
He had made sure to keep her and the midwife out of the crossfire.
"What... was that?" she asked weakly, reaching for their son.
Mihawk moved to her side, noting with concern how the sheets beneath her were soaked with blood. "That can be a topic for later. You need rest."
Elise shook her head slightly, her hand trembling as she touched their son's cheek. "There won't be a later, Mihawk. We both know that."
The midwife's grim expression confirmed her words. Mihawk carefully placed the baby in her arms, his face betraying nothing of the turmoil within.
"He's beautiful," Elise whispered, studying the child's features. "I want his name to be Leon... after my father." She looked up at Mihawk apologetically. "I'm sorry I didn't discuss it with you."
"Leon is a strong name," Mihawk replied, his voice softer than usual.
Elise kissed the baby's forehead, her strength visibly fading. "I'm so happy you're born healthy, little one. I wish..." her voice caught, "I wish I could spend more time with you."
Leon's eyes, seemed to look directly into hers for a moment, his crying ceased.
"Mihawk," Elise whispered, her voice barely audible. "Promise me you'll keep him safe."
Mihawk took her hand, "I promise."
A faint smile touched her lips before her hand went limp in his, her eyes losing focus as she exhaled one final breath.
Mihawk remained motionless, his hand still holding hers. The midwife began to weep quietly, but Mihawk made no sound.
Only the slight tightening of his jaw and momentary closing of his eyes betrayed anything of what he felt.
When he opened his eyes again, they were cold and focused. He gently took Leon from Elise's arms and stood, turning to the midwife.
"Leave now," he commanded, voice betraying nothing of his loss. "Take this for your services." He placed a small pouch of gold coins on the table. "Forget what you've seen here tonight."
The woman nodded, still trembling, and gathered her things. As she reached the door, Mihawk spoke again.
"The woman deserves proper words. Say them before you go."
Understanding his meaning, the midwife turned back to Elise's body and spoke a brief, traditional prayer for the departed. Then she hurried out into the rain.
Mihawk stood alone with his son and the body of the woman who had somehow breached his isolation. He allowed himself one moment - a single tear tracking down his face - before wiping it away.
"They're coming," he said to Leon, who watched him.
Moving swiftly, Mihawk fashioned a sling from a length of cloth, securing Leon against his chest. The arrangement left both his hands free while keeping the child protected against his body.
He gathered only essential supplies into a small pack, then paused at Elise's bedside one final time.
"You deserved better," he said simply, before turning away.
As Mihawk stepped onto the cottage porch, his senses sharpened. They were already here - surrounding the clearing, moving through the forest stealthily.
He counted at least ten distinct presences, plus something else approaching from the east - something far more dangerous.
The rain had intensified, providing some cover, but also making the forest floor treacherous. Mihawk adjusted the sling, ensuring Leon was protected from the elements, then stepped off the porch into the darkness.
He made it exactly seventeen steps before the first CP-0 agent appeared before him, white mask gleaming in the rain.
"Dracula Mihawk," the agent spoke, voice muffled behind the mask. "By order of the Five Elders, we've come for the child."
Mihawk's hand moved to Yoru's hilt, but he didn't draw the blade. "You've made a grave miscalculation."
"Surrender the infant," the agent continued as if Mihawk hadn't spoken. "Your reputation grants you certain... considerations. This need not end in bloodshed."
More agents appeared from the shadows, forming a loose circle around Mihawk. Their white masks and black uniforms created an eerie tableau against the dark forest and pouring rain.
"There are two mistakes in your assessment," Mihawk stated calmly. "First, that I would ever surrender my son. Second-" his eyes narrowed, "-that any of you will leave this island alive after attempting to take him."
The lead agent sighed. "We were told you might be difficult. Fortunately, we came prepared."
At some unseen signal, all the agents moved simultaneously, converging on Mihawk from different angles.
Mihawk drew Yoru in a single fluid motion, the black blade singing through the rain. Despite the child secured to his chest, his movements showed no constraint.
He pivoted smoothly, the massive sword moving fast to parry three attacks at once before countering with a sweeping slash that forced the agents to retreat.
"Inadequate," Mihawk stated flatly.
Two agents attacked from behind, using Finger Pistol techniques aimed at non-vital areas - clearly under orders to avoid harming the child.
Mihawk didn't bother turning; he simply shifted his weight and angled Yoru behind him, deflecting both strikes before spinning to face them.
"Your restraint makes you predictable," he observed, before launching a counterattack.
Yoru moved like an extension of his body, its enormous blade wielded with one hand. A diagonal slash sent one agent flying into a tree trunk with enough force to splinter the wood.
A thrust - so fast it seemed to disappear - pierced another's shoulder, disabling without killing.
The remaining agents adjusted their strategy, attempting to separate and surround.
Mihawk responded by taking the initiative, his movements becoming a blur as he targeted them individually.
Each strike was measured - using exactly the force needed, no more, no less. Within moments, three more agents lay incapacitated in the mud.
The lead agent watched from a distance, assessing. "Impressive as always, Mihawk. But ultimately futile."
Mihawk sensed the change before he saw it - a wave of intense heat approaching from the east, causing the raindrops to sizzle and evaporate before they hit the ground.
The forest floor began to steam, creating an unnatural fog that rolled between the trees.
"Your reinforcement has arrived," Mihawk noted, adjusting his stance. "Good. I was beginning to think this would be too easy."
Through the steam emerged a tall figure, his Marine coat hanging from broad shoulders.
Vice Admiral Sakazuki walked with measured steps, each footfall melting the ground beneath him.
His face, not yet bearing the scars of later years, was set in lines of cold determination.
"Dracula Mihawk," Sakazuki's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "The Marine Hunter. I've looked forward to this day."
Mihawk's expression didn't change as he assessed this new threat. "Sakazuki. I see they sent a dog to do a man's job."
Fury flashed across Sakazuki's face. "That child belongs to the World Government, Mihawk. Hand him over, and your death might be quick."
Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly.
"My son belongs to no one but himself," Mihawk replied, shifting his grip on Yoru. "A concept beyond your comprehension, I'm sure."
Sakazuki's body began to transform, magma replacing flesh as his Devil Fruit power activated. "I don't know why the Five Elders want your spawn," he growled, "but their will is absolute justice."
Mihawk glanced down at Leon, who remained eerily quiet against his chest, those golden eyes - a contrast to his father's red ones - watching everything.
Then he looked back at Sakazuki, his decision made.
"Come then, Vice Admiral," Mihawk said, raising Yoru before him. "Let us see if your 'absolute justice' can stand against my blade."
Sakazuki struck first, his arm transforming into a massive column of magma that shot toward Mihawk. "Great Eruption!"
Mihawk didn't dodge. Instead, he slashed Yoru in a perfect arc, the black blade parting the magma itself, sending the molten rock splashing harmlessly to either side. Steam exploded outward as raindrops hit the superheated ground, creating a momentary veil.
The remaining CP-0 agents spread out, looking for openings. Mihawk ignored them, focusing entirely on Sakazuki. The Vice Admiral was the true threat - the others were merely distractions.
"You cannot protect the child and fight me simultaneously," Sakazuki stated, his body fully transforming into magma as he prepared another attack. "Surrender now."
Mihawk's response was a single slash so fast it seemed to bend the falling rain. The attack caught Sakazuki across the chest, forcing him to disperse into magma and shift his body to avoid being cut in half. Even so, a thin line of blood appeared where Haki had made contact with his true body.
"You were saying?" Mihawk's tone remained even.
Rage contorted Sakazuki's features as he reformed. "METEOR VOLCANO!"
Multiple magma fists erupted from the ground around Mihawk, forcing him into motion. He moved with fluid grace, each step precisely calculated, each swing of Yoru deflecting magma while simultaneously keeping the CP-0 agents at bay.
Leon remained secure against his chest, protected by both the sling and Mihawk's careful positioning.
The forest began to catch fire despite the rain, trees hissing and steaming before bursting into flames.
Mihawk realized Sakazuki's strategy - not to defeat him directly, but to transform the environment itself into a weapon. Soon the entire island would become uninhabitable for the infant.
Mihawk needed higher ground and space to maneuver.
With a powerful leap, he cleared the heads of two CP-0 agents and landed on a tree branch, immediately springing higher up the mountainside.
The agents pursued, but Sakazuki simply melted into the ground, his presence vanishing momentarily.
"A tactical retreat? How unlike the Marine Hunter," called the lead CP-0 agent, leaping from tree to tree in pursuit.
Mihawk didn't bother responding to the taunt. He continued upward, each jump carrying him higher up the mountain slope. The forest thinned as he ascended, providing better visibility and more room to wield Yoru effectively.
When he reached a relatively flat outcropping halfway up the mountain, Mihawk paused. Leon stirred against his chest, making a small sound that wasn't quite a cry.
Mihawk glanced down, noting with approval that the child's eyes remained alert, watching everything.
"You have your mother's courage," he said quietly.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly heated, turning cherry red. Mihawk leapt backward just as Sakazuki erupted from the earth, a massive column of magma carrying him upward.
"There's nowhere to run on this island, Mihawk!" Sakazuki roared, his body reforming at the center of the molten mass. "The child comes with me - either in your arms or from your corpse!"
The CP-0 agents had caught up, forming a semicircle to cut off escape routes down the mountain. Mihawk stood calmly, Yoru held in a relaxed grip at his side.
"You misunderstand," Mihawk replied. "I didn't come here for tactical advantage. I simply didn't want to bury my son's mother under volcanic debris."
Something flickered across Sakazuki's face - perhaps surprise at this uncharacteristic sentiment from the notorious Marine Hunter. It passed quickly.
"Sentimentality will be your downfall," Sakazuki growled, placing both hands on the ground. "HELLHOUND!"
The rock beneath them transformed, magma dogs forming and lunging toward Mihawk from multiple directions.
Simultaneously, three CP-0 agents attacked from behind, using the distraction to their advantage.
What followed was a display of swordsmanship that would later become legendary among the few survivors.
Mihawk moved like water, Yoru an extension of his will rather than a physical object. Each swing dispatched a magma hound while positioning him perfectly to counter the CP-0 attacks.
One agent managed to get close enough to strike at Leon directly. Mihawk's response was immediate and brutal - Yoru's pommel smashing into the agent's mask with enough force to shatter both it and the skull beneath.
Without breaking stride, Mihawk continued his defense against the magma onslaught.
"Impressive," Sakazuki admitted grudgingly. "But how long can you maintain this pace while protecting the child?"
As if in answer, Mihawk suddenly changed tactics. Instead of continuing to defend, he launched forward directly at Sakazuki, Yoru aimed at the Vice Admiral's heart.
Sakazuki dispersed into magma instinctively, but Mihawk had anticipated this. He adjusted his slash mid-swing, imbuing the blade with enough Haki to catch Sakazuki as he reformed.
Blood sprayed as Yoru connected, drawing a diagonal line across Sakazuki's torso. The Vice Admiral staggered back, genuine shock on his face as he pressed a hand to the wound.
"You-" he gasped.
"I could have taken your head," Mihawk stated matter-of-factly. "Consider this a warning."
He didn't want to have to kill Sakazuki, especially since in the past they had been... Friends one could say.
That former friend of his though, was completely buried between the Marine of Absolute Justice.
Fury replaced shock as magma bubbled from Sakazuki's wound, sealing it. "You'll regret that mercy," he snarled, his body beginning to glow white-hot with rage.
The remaining CP-0 agents backed away, sensing what was coming. Mihawk narrowed his eyes, recognizing the signs of an awakened Devil Fruit about to manifest.
"So you would risk destroying the child you came to capture," Mihawk observed. "Your masters won't be pleased."
"The Five Elders want the child alive," Sakazuki growled, his form becoming increasingly unstable as power built within him. "But they'll understand if retrieving him becomes impossible. Better no one has him than you!"
The ground began to shake, fissures spreading outward from Sakazuki's feet. The air shimmered with heat so intense that the rain evaporated before reaching them, creating a dome of dry air amid the storm.
"GREAT ERUPTION WORLD!"
Sakazuki slammed both fists into the mountain, and the world transformed. The entire mountainside began to liquefy, rock becoming magma in an expanding circle.
Trees ignited instantly, creating a wall of flame that raced down toward the village below. The sky darkened as ash and smoke billowed upward.
Mihawk leapt from stone to stone as the ground beneath him melted away. Leon remained silent against his chest, but Mihawk could feel the child's heartbeat accelerating.
The awakened power of the Magma-Magma Fruit was turning the entire mountain into an active volcano - with Sakazuki as its living core.
"Behold true justice!" Sakazuki's voice echoed from everywhere, his physical form now indistinguishable from the magma surrounding them. "This island will be your grave, Mihawk!"
Attacks came from all directions - magma spears erupting from the ground, molten boulders raining from above, even the air itself becoming superheated and difficult to breathe.
Mihawk's movements became a continuous flow, Yoru slicing through magma, deflecting projectiles, creating momentary safe paths through the inferno.
It was like he was fighting a force of nature itself rather than a man.
But of course, that was true. For that was the true essence of an awakened logia devil fruit.
To become the very embodiment of that aspect of nature.
A CP-0 agent, desperate to complete the mission, lunged at Mihawk from behind a curtain of flame. Without looking, Mihawk reversed his grip and thrust backward, impaling the man through the chest.
As the body fell, Mihawk noticed the agent had been aiming not for him, but for the sling holding Leon.
"Enough," Mihawk muttered, his patience exhausted.
He leapt to the highest remaining solid rock, a jagged spire that rose above the magma sea the mountainside had become.
Below him, Sakazuki's power had transformed the landscape beyond recognition. Where forest had stood now flowed rivers of molten rock.
The mountain itself had become a true volcano, with Sakazuki as its vengeful spirit.
"There's nowhere left to run!" Sakazuki's voice boomed from the volcano itself. "Surrender the child!"
Mihawk looked down at Leon, whose golden eyes stared back at him without fear. Then he raised Yoru above his head, the black blade gleaming with an inner light that seemed to absorb the redness surrounding them.
"A blade can cut anything," Mihawk stated calmly, "even a devil's power."
He brought Yoru down in a perfect vertical slash, channeling an enormous amount of his Haki into the strike. The blade cut through the air itself, creating a visible distortion that raced toward the heart of the volcano where Sakazuki's presence was strongest.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the mountain groaned - a deep, primordial sound that seemed to come from the earth itself.
A massive crack appeared where Yoru's slash had landed, spreading rapidly down the mountainside.
"What have you done?!" Sakazuki's voice held genuine alarm now.
"I've destabilized your control," Mihawk replied, already moving. "An awakened Devil Fruit user becomes one with their element - but that connection works both ways."
The volcano began to collapse in on itself, magma flowing inward toward the growing fissure. Sakazuki's scream of rage was drowned out by the mountain's death throes as his perfect weapon turned against him.
Mihawk didn't wait to witness the aftermath. With Leon secured against his chest, he leapt from the crumbling spire, using the chaos to cover his escape.
Behind him, the mountain imploded before erupting violently, sending ash and debris thousands of feet into the air.
The shockwave caught Mihawk mid-leap, propelling him farther than intended. He twisted in the air, positioning his body to absorb the impact rather than risk Leon taking any force.
They crashed through tree branches before Mihawk managed to catch one, swinging to break their momentum before dropping to the forest floor on the far side of the island.
For a moment, he remained still, checking that Leon was unharmed. The baby blinked up at him, somehow still calm despite everything.
"You truly are unusual," Mihawk murmured, adjusting the sling.
In the distance, the volcano continued its cataclysmic eruption, but Mihawk knew Sakazuki had survived.
A Vice Admiral - one he had once called friend - wouldn't die so easily, especially the one with the most powerful offensive fruit in the world.
But he would be occupied with reforming himself and regaining control of his power - buying Mihawk precious time.
Moving swiftly through the forest, Mihawk reached a small cove where he had hidden a boat for emergency escape.
The simple craft wasn't much, but it would carry them to safety. As he pushed off from shore, Mihawk looked back at the island one last time.
The cottage where Elise had died was now buried under ash and rock, becoming her tomb.
"Farewell," he said softly, before turning his attention to the open sea ahead.
--------------------------
Rain poured from a black sky as Mihawk sat in the small boat, one hand steadying the tiller.
Hours had passed since their escape from the island, now visible only as a distant glow on the horizon where magma still flowed into the sea.
His clothes were soaked through, but he had positioned himself to shelter Leon from the worst of the downpour.
Exhaustion pulled at him - a rare sensation for the world's greatest swordsman. The battle with Sakazuki, the use of advanced Haki to destroy the Abyss Mark, the loss of Elise - all had taken their toll.
Yet he remained vigilant, senses extended for any sign of pursuit.
Leon stirred against his chest, making a small sound. Mihawk looked down, adjusting the blanket to better protect the child from the rain.
"You should be crying," Mihawk observed, studying the infant's alert golden eyes. "Most would, after such a day."
Leon simply watched him. Something about that gaze reminded Mihawk of both himself... and his own father.
"What am I thinking? Comparing my own child to that devil of a father." Mihawk muttered to himself.
As the storm began to ease, Mihawk allowed himself to consider their options. His mind worked through possibilities, eliminating each in turn.
"Shanks," he murmured, thinking of his red-haired rival. "He would take you in without question." A pause. "And that is precisely why he cannot. Our connection is too well-known. They would look there first."
The rain lessened to a drizzle as dawn approached, gray light slowly replacing darkness.
"Silvers Rayleigh," Mihawk continued his analysis aloud. "Strong enough to protect you, wise enough to raise you well." He shook his head. "But he is watched too closely, his connection to Shanks too obvious."
Leon made another small sound, almost like agreement.
"The Revolutionary Army?" Mihawk considered briefly. "They would use you as leverage against the World Government. Another form of prison."
As the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, Mihawk's thoughts turned to more unexpected options.
"Whitebeard.... No." A formidable protector, certainly.
But for some reason, Mihawk felt instinctively that his son won't be safe there. He's always felt like some dark shadow was permeating through that crew and ship, but always kept silent about it out of respect to the man who could destroy the world.
Mihawk fell silent, contemplating as he steered the small craft through calmer waters. The solution, when it came to him, was so audacious it might actually succeed.
-------------------------
It was Dusk when Mihawk reached the shores of Dawn Island. Many days had passed since Leon's birth.
He secured the small boat in a hidden cove, then made his way inland with Leon still secured against his chest.
The child was asleep, his tiny body warm against Mihawk's heart.
Mihawk moved like a shadow through the forest, his presence masked from all but the most perceptive observers as he tracked the aura of the man he sought.
He could sense multiple presences on the mountain - a bandit hideout, if he recalled correctly, where the Marine hero sometimes visited.
As he approached, he heard gruff laughter and a child's angry shout.
"Damn it, Gramps! I don't wanna be a Marine!"
"Bwahaha! You'll be the strongest Marine ever, Ace! It's in your blood!"
Mihawk paused, recognizing Garp's distinctive laugh.
The Marine hero was visiting his ward - the three year old son of Gold Roger, though this was unknown to Mihawk.
He circled around, avoiding the bandit house entirely. Garp would leave eventually, and Mihawk could intercept him away from prying eyes. Patience had always been one of his virtues.
Night had fully fallen when Garp finally departed, making his way down the mountain path alone. Mihawk tracked him silently until the Marine reached a cliff overlooking the sea - a private spot away from both the bandits and the village below.
Mihawk stepped from the shadows, making no effort to disguise his approach.
Garp spun instantly, fists raised in his signature combat stance. Recognition flashed across his weathered face, followed by wariness.
"Marine Hunter," Garp's gruff voice carried across the clearing. "You've got nerve coming here."
Mihawk made no move toward the blade on his back. "I'm not here to fight, Monkey D. Garp."
Garp's eyes narrowed, then widened slightly as he noticed the bundle against Mihawk's chest. "What's this? Kidnapping children now?"
"My son," Mihawk stated simply.
The words hung in the air between them, Garp's expression cycling through disbelief and confusion.
"Your... son?" Garp finally repeated, lowering his fists slightly.
Mihawk stepped forward, his hawk-like eyes never leaving Garp's face. "I need someone to care for him. Someone unexpected."
Garp barked a laugh, though there was little humor in it. "And you thought of me? Have you lost your mind, pirate?"
"There are those who hunt him," Mihawk continued, ignoring the question. "The World Government itself seeks him, though most don't know why."
"The World Government?" Garp's expression grew serious. "What have you done, Mihawk?"
"Nothing. His crime is simply being my son." Mihawk's voice remained even, betraying nothing of his inner thoughts. "Vice Admiral Sakazuki led the attempt to take him. He destroyed an entire island in the effort."
Garp's eyes widened. "Sakazuki? That's not a simple bounty hunt. That's direct orders from above."
"Yes."
"And you want me - a Marine Vice Admiral - to hide your son from the organization I serve?" Garp's tone was incredulous.
Mihawk met his gaze steadily. "I want you - a man known for his own sense of justice - to protect an innocent child from those who would use him as a weapon."
Something shifted in Garp's expression - a recognition that Mihawk didn't quite understand, but was relieved to see present.
"No child should bear their father's sins," Mihawk added quietly. "A man of justice would understand that."
Garp's internal conflict played across his face, memories of another promise made to another dying parent clearly weighing on him.
After a long moment, he sighed heavily.
"Let me see him," Garp said, his tone softer.
Mihawk carefully unwrapped the sling, revealing Leon's sleeping face. The child stirred at the movement, opening his golden eyes to stare at Garp.
"He has unusual eyes," Garp observed.
"His mother's gift," Mihawk replied. Of course not truly. His eyes were his own and the great Imu's - but golden instead of red.
Not having yet achieved the level of strength associated with the color of blood and supremacy.
"And where is she?"
"Dead. She died bringing him into this world." Mihawk's voice remained steady, but something in his eyes made Garp look away momentarily.
"What's his name?"
"Leon. Aurelius Leon ."
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Not Dracula?"
"For his protection," Mihawk explained. "Aurelius was his mother's family name."
Garp studied the child for a long moment, then looked back at Mihawk. "Why me? There must be others you could turn to. Pirates. Allies."
"All too obvious," Mihawk replied. "The son of the Marine Hunter, hidden by the Hero of the Marines... it's the last place they would look."
A reluctant smile tugged at Garp's mouth. "That's either the smartest or most foolish plan I've ever heard."
"Often there's little difference between the two."
Garp's expression grew serious again. "I already have one child with in my care. Taking another is doubling the risk."
"Or halving it," Mihawk countered. "Two boys, raised as brothers. Who would suspect my son's or your grandson's true parentage when any talent he has can be associated with your presence."
Garp considered this, his weathered face thoughtful. "The boy would be raised as a Marine."
"Better that than a indoctrinated weapon for the World Government," Mihawk replied - though Mihawk wasn't sure that, that was exactly his father's plan. But the ones sent, most likely believed this.
"At least as a Marine, he would have choice."
"Choice?" Garp laughed. "You clearly don't know how I raise children!"
"I know enough," Mihawk said quietly. "I know you raised your grandson despite your son becoming the world's most wanted criminal. You follow orders, Garp, but never blindly."
Garp's laughter died, his expression growing somber.
A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sound of waves against the cliffs below. Finally, Garp extended his massive hands.
"Give him here," he said gruffly.
Mihawk hesitated only briefly before placing Leon in Garp's arms. From within his coat, he produced a torn photograph showing Elise's smiling face.
"Her name was Aurelius Elise. Give this to him when he's old enough to understand. Tell him she died bringing him into this world." Mihawk's voice remained even. "But never speak of me."
Garp studied the photograph, then looked back at Mihawk with newfound curiosity. "Again, why trust me with this? I'm a Marine - you're the Marine Hunter."
"Because you follow your own sense of justice," Mihawk replied. "Not orders."
Mihawk looked at his son one last time, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back toward the shadows of the forest.
"Mihawk," Garp called after him.
The swordsman paused but didn't turn.
"If I'm doing this," Garp continued, "I need to know - what makes this boy so important to the World Government? What aren't you telling me?"
Mihawk was silent for a moment. "Some secrets are too dangerous even for you, Garp. Know only that if certain powers discover him, they will either destroy him or use him to destroy others."
"That's not much of an answer."
"It's the only one I can safely give." Mihawk glanced back over his shoulder. "Raise him to be strong, but more importantly, raise him to be free."
'Like your clan - the D clan, always pushes to be.' Mihawk thought to himself.
With that, Mihawk disappeared into the darkness, leaving Garp standing alone with the child.
Garp looked down at Leon, who stared back. "Well, Aurelius Leon," he muttered, "looks like my family just got bigger again..."
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter.
Do tell me how you found it.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)