"Zoro, are you sure about this??" you asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm sure so take me with you!!" Zoro replied firmly.
"Fine, I'll bring you along as long you don't cause any trouble" you rubbed your neck at the back as Zoro looked at you in excitement. He jumped aboard your ship as you sighed and joined in as well to set sail onto the next island.
After sailing for a couple of hours, you finally reached your destination. You nudged Zoro a bit to wake him up from his nap.
"Wake up, Zoro. We're here" you said.
Zoro woke up in his half-asleep state, rubbing his eyelids. After docking your ship, you and Zoro wandered around the town. It was bustling with so many stalls and noise. You doubt you could get used to it as you held Zoro's hand since he might get lost in the crowd.
You asked the pedestrians for directions to the venue for the tournament. Unfortunately, they don't know about the location, you were about to walk away when a stranger approached you. It seems he is also one of the participants in the tournament or a spectator. He asked if you came to watch and you replied with a nod since you couldn't tell him that you were participating as well.
It was a tall man who seems to be the same height as you with dark raven hair and piercing gold eyes. He wore a black hat with a feather on it and a dark coat with wine red sleeves. You even saw a big black sword on his back. He seems intimidating but you could tell he wore an expression of pity.
It turns out to be an underground arena which surprised you a little. It didn't take long for you to get there and the stranger beside you seems to like your company. Not that you mind. You said goodbye to the stranger and Zoro as you told him to watch you at the spectators' seats while you quickly hid in one of the rooms to change into a disguise. You even bound your chest with bandages to not make a dead giveaway.
Once changed, you put on a mask to hide your feminine face. You put your dual swords and spear onto your waist and back as you walked towards the area with a petite woman behind it.
She spoke without looking up from reading her paper. "Name and sword style??" To make sure you sound like a man, you lowered your voice but added a silky hint to it. "M/n and Two Sword style"
She directed you toward the other applicants. All eyes are on you as you walked past them. You don't like the tension in the atmosphere but you hid your disturbance. You don't want to make any enemies on the spot. You stood alone against the wall alone waiting for the first round of the tournament.
Mihawk's POV
I like this woman. She was great company, and didn't speak too much but not too little either. I saw she had a spear and a sword with her. She must've held them before. I would like to see her fight in the tournament but it's a shame that the rule states that women are not allowed in the tournament. I can sense her full potential in her.
___________________________________________________
You were half asleep when you heard an irritating high pitch ringing and woke up from the noise.
"Attention contestants. The New Talent Swordsmanship will now begin" a female voice announced.
Everyone including you went through their respective stages. There were a total of 3 stages in the arena meaning that 3 separate matches would go on at the same time. Well, they did have a lot of applicants so the lesser the faster they could finish it in one day. Some were stopped quickly while others had to be stopped as a draw after 30 minutes. After 20 minutes of waiting, it was finally your turn. It was finally time to put your skills to a test.
You decided to not unsheathe your swords just in case. You wanted to not put too much force on your strength as you wanted to drag this match longer. Up on stage, you were up against a giant. You don't want to look at him because of how he is dressed. He had no shame so you're not gonna divulge that.
"I've never seen someone like you before. What's your name??" the giant asked.
You don't wanna waste your breath on him so you gave him the silent treatment while you grabbed your swords.
Irk marks appeared on his forehead as you ignored him, also not looking at him. When the time came for the match to start, he started badmouthing you but you ignored it as he tried to taunt you. It became tiring to hear his blabbering but much to your relief, he attacked you first due to his patience running thin. Just as he was about to attack you, you sidestepped him and jumped at the back of his neck. You brought down the hilt of the sword since they sheathed together as one to his vital pressure point and knocked him out cold. How do you know this, is one of the things you learned in medical books.
There was silence in the arena. Everyone froze and no one speaks, even the other matches that were in play. Even Mihawk was shocked. He had never thought there would be someone so strong to knock the person out in one strike. Moreover, the sword is sheathed. This excites him and looking forward to more.
Zoro recognized your swords and clapped his hands to break the silence. Slowly the arena erupted in cheers and shouts. You look in Zoro's direction and smiled tho he can't see it due to the mask as he looks at you in awe. Then you saw the stranger who helped you before. He smirked at you and your eyes widened. You turned around while composing yourself.
[Shit, so he's a spectator. Who would've thought?]
During your battles, you didn't unsheathe your sword once since they were not worthy of your blade. Now you're getting irritated at the fact that you didn't put up much of a fight. It disappointed you that they're so weak, not as strong as they look. You sighed in boredom and disappointment. You look back at the stranger and he's still looking at you attentively. It gave you goosebumps but you shrugged it off and turn back to focus on the next round.
Mihawk's POV
This man is quite interesting. All of his movements are elegant yet relaxed and fluid. His posture makes it seems as though he is wide open but no matter what technique or trick is thrown at him, he avoided them with ease and grace. Not once did he deem it necessary to use his sword. Is he that confident in his skills or is it something else?? I hope that in the finals will he unsheathe his sword. Now that I look at him, he has familiar swords and a spear like that woman from earlier. Could it be a coincidence??
Your POV
You are finally at the finals. You breathe a sigh of relief that it's finally over. You became bored the whole time since the first few rounds. In front of you is an average-looking man whos not worth describing.
"M/n, a swordsman that didn't unsheathe his sword throughout the whole tournament. You are an opponent worthy to face off with me. Taking inspiration from yourself, I too ended all my matches with one blow. So tell me, who was your master??" His light-hearted tone turns serious at the end.
You sighed. You don't want to talk to him at all so why answer?? But since this is the final, you should reply just this once.
"My master is no one well known. He's just a sensei from the dojo I trained at. Don't waste your breath talking to me" You replied in a male voice urging him to start fighting.
He burst out laughing along with the crowd thinking that you were joking but the longer you stood there, the more evident it is. Zoro crossed his arms and nodded proudly at you. You're just too good at it which is why they're so weak compared to you.
Mihawk was baffled that someone who is trained by someone who is not a renowned swordsman could perform as flawlessly as you and make it to the finals against other reasonably talented individuals. That settled it. He had to challenge you to a duel. He can't contain his excitement any longer.
The worthless opponent looked at you wide open and disgust littered his face. He lifted his gaze to look you in the eyes.
"If what you said is true, then I will take that as an insult but don't worry, I'll make sure to enlighten you" he unsheathed his sword and lunged his sword at you in anger. "I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT TRUE SWORDSMANSHIP IS"
You flinched at the bloodlust from the sword but composed yourself to lean back and avoided the strike.
[Now, this became interesting]
You decided to play along and dodged the number of flurry strikes he had retaliated, none hitting their intended mark. You had swerved out of the way and parried his attacks with practiced ease. This only infuriates him when you finally had a bit of fun at last although his movements are starting to become sloppy and impulsive.
Little did you know that this battle was a bit entertaining for a certain swordsman. The way you weaved through the attacks, your strikes were like water off a duck's back. This intrigues Mihawk further, he was about to jump down from the spectators' seat and interrupt the duel but he held himself back. As a swordsman, he must not intervene in another's issue of the duel. It was their fight so he had to wait. You were quite experienced on the battlefield but the fluidity of your movements is only something that can be achieved with at least a few decades of training. Your age doesn't match up with this fact. You were young, age twenty at most. He didn't quite understand but he was sure to find out once the tournament is over.
On a different note, there was someone else who is also interested. Zoro knew you were special the moment he first challenged you to a duel. Yes, he admits that you're very pretty and special. He just doesn't want to show it. He stared at you in awe during the fight. He had decided. He will become the Greatest Swordsman not just for a promise, but to challenge you again once he grew stronger.
The wannabe started getting slower due to being exhausted from the fight. He wanted to end this quickly so he tried to aim for your clothes. You sweatdropped, worried that it will blow your cover so you turned your gaze to him and stared right into his soul, giving out the dominant aura from your body. The hairs at the back of his neck stood out. All his senses are telling him that if he dared to land that hit, he won't ever be able to see another light again. A cold sweat broke out and he stepped back to distance himself from you.
"WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT!! THE LAST YEAR'S CHAMPION AND CROWD FAVORITE HAS STOPPED HIS ATTACK JUST SHORT OF HITTING MR M/N!! WHAT'S MORE, HE'S DRENCHED IN COLD SWEAT. WHAT COULD THIS PROUD MAN COWER IN FEAR?!" The commenter exclaimed in excitement.
The crowd was at the edge of their seats. Everyone was wondering who will come out on top. The mysterious samurai or the wannabe.
Mihawk had to suppress the shutter. That look was nothing to scoff at. There was no haki infused in it yet could feel the dominant aura you leaked out. He became even more excited (A/n: Nope, he's not perverted. Chill, you horny bastards) He was for a new rival. He looked at you in anticipation of the unknown.
The expression on your face faded as soon as he stopped the attack. You and Zoro sigh in relief. Your cover was almost blown. You would be disqualified for breaking the rule.
The wannabe convinced himself that it wasn't even there in the first place but Mihawk knew it was there and this change in demeanor meant that you were holding back in this fight. Oh, you were such a mystery.
The wannabe charges at you with newfound resolve. Unfortunately, you were a bit distracted by one of the spectators in the crowd. The wannabe is now in front of you, about to land his hit. You barely managed to avoid his blade but your clothes were slashed and revealed your chest binds.
That strike ripped your mask and your Japanese hat in half, revealing your face and your curly hair. They couldn't see your chest but the chest binds are enough to prove that you're not male.
Everyone in the arena except Zoro froze. They were not able to comprehend what just happened. Zoro is sweating bullets at the scene he just saw, panicking. You were a woman, not a man and you had made it to the finals without unsheathing your sword. You looked around in cold sweat. That was a failure on your part for being distracted. You even peeked at the stranger who is even more shocked than the rest. You looked at Zoro who is sweating like hell. He doesn't even know what to do.
[Damn it...]
Mihawk was shocked that M/n was the same woman he had talked to earlier. No wonder her spear and sword are there. His excitement had already shot up to the roof.
You stood in the middle of the arena, sweating over the choices on what to do next. You'll most likely be disqualified from the tournament.
[Ugh, I'm so sorry, Mochi...I guess there's no helping it. I should apologize for the mess I've caused]
You reached out to the back of your neck and gently rubbed it. "Hehehe, I'm deeply sorry for the trouble I've caused" you grinned.
As if a switch was flipped, most of the crowd erupted in cheers which surprised you and Zoro a lot. It was unexpected but of course, there will be some misogynistic men. They were shouting profanities at you about how you cheated and broke the rules. They stopped when the stranger stood up and sent a sharp glare at them.
He then turned to you and clapped his hands slowly as he jumps down from the spectator's seat and walked towards you.
He begins to speak booming throughout the arena. "You did well, young swordswoman. I am impressed with your technique. I find it quite interesting so I challenge you to a duel"
The crowd murmured across as you looked at the stranger in shock. You felt your heart beating very fast. What is this feeling?? Is this adrenaline?? No, you must've sensed this as well and you know it. Excitement runs through your blood meaning that the stranger in front of you is strong, very strong.
The stranger noticed this and smirked. "So you've been holding back your strength. Now both of us found someone we can go all out with our power"
Your mouth slowly turned into a grin. A grin filled with excitement that you cant contain. "Sir. If going all out is what you want...." you put your swords back on your waist and switched it to your spear. "Then as a swordswoman, and spearwoman, I will gladly accept the challenge" you moved to your fighting stance. You couldn't help but become crazily excited and grinned widely.
Both of you charged with your blades at ready. The blades continue to clash causing an immense shockwave to resound, knocking spectators off their feet including Zoro as he is barely holding on to the railing for dear life. Both of you neither give in nor flinch against each other's cold yet excited gaze.
With nearly every clash, a shockwave resounds, slicing up the surrounding areas of the arena. Everyone moved back out of panic for safety to not get caught in the crossfire. Zoro however, continued to watch your fight in awe. It was intense and had never seen you this excited ever. He knew that its because you were too strong, it is hard to find someone strong enough to make it challenging.
You threw your spear in the air and unsheathed your swords. You turn one of your swords into a backhand stance and make an upper downward slash at the stranger but he dodges.
The stranger retaliates while your back is towards him. You sensed his black blade coming close from your midsection and reciprocates by catching your spear which reached in time and blocked his attack without even turning to face him.
You looked over your right shoulder and gazed at the stranger. The stranger suddenly finds himself lost in your dark red eyes as if he went under a spell.
__________________________________________________________
You used the stranger's distractedness to lift your arms and bent back your shoulders, nimbly causing your spear to drag upwards against his blade and stance.
Taking full advantage of the opening, you pirouettes, raising your spear over your head as you jump and bring it down swiftly, causing a surge of white energy to escape the spear and flow right at the stranger, leaving an impressive gash on his side and a path of ravage from her to him. But the stranger generously returns it with a deep cut across your left shoulder, blood seeping into your samurai clothes.
Both of you panted, clutching onto your respective wounds. "You swapped your blades a lot," he said.
"Heh, it is useful if you put your mind to it plus I turned my spear techniques are the same as my sword techniques so it wouldn't make much of a difference besides the weapon and strength" you smirked, pointing your sword at the stranger.
Both of you clash swords again, struggling to hold back the other with your respective weapons.
After countless clashing and intense struggling, both of you panted in exhaustion. So far both of you only had one wound on your bodies.
The stranger sheathes his blade and asked, "What is your real name, young one??"
You sheathed your spear and swords and replied, "(First name). What is yours??"
"Dracule Mihawk. I hope to challenge you again soon"
"As would I. Hopefully, we meet next time under better circumstances" you smiled.
He quickly walked past you and whispered to you in a different language, "Tal vez nos encontremos tomando unas copas"
Although you do not know most of the words, you managed to understand what he said. You smirked and turned around as you replied, "Si eso es una cita, eres bastante audaz. Tal vez podria estar de acuerdo si nuevo"
He smirked and then left the arena. Zoro came running to you as you slumped down to the floor, clutching the wound on your shoulder. Adrenaline has been drained and you felt the pain and energy drained out of your body. "(First name)!!" Zoro shouted. "Let's get you to the hospital to heal your wound," he said as he helped you get up.
You smiled as you looked at the little mochi and said, "Aww, that's so sweet of you, mochi"
"Sh-shut up!! And what did you call me?!" Zoro's face turned 50 shades of red. "Also you did well in that intense fight with that man..." he turned his head, hiding his flustered face. You chuckled. What he said is cute. Such a tsundere.
Both of you went to the hospital to heal your wound. The doctor said that there will be a scar after you recover. After boarding your ship docked at the harbor, you set sail to Zoro's village to send him back home. But as soon as you reached the docks, you suddenly fainted on your ship. Zoro's eyes fell out of his sockets and tried to wake you up but you didn't budge so he quickly ran back to the village to ask for help but it took him a few days to reach the village. Thus it becomes another normal chaotic day.
Author's note: Whew. I'm finally done with this long chapter. Now that we're done meeting with Zoro and Mihawk, we'll move on to the other characters. There may be a ton of the original plots being changed so I'm giving you a heads-up. Also, I changed Y/n to (First name) as I just think it looks better that way.