Chapter 3

Nana found herself walking along the snowy shores. The biting snow digging into the soles of her feet but she didn't feel a thing. The sounds of crashing waves brought her gaze up to the setting sun and sighed. She wondered how long she had been outside her warm home for, avoiding Mihawk. His words rattled her to the core. "Foolish man." She tightened her fists as his words kept repeating through her mind. "He doesn't understand the consequences." Nana watched as the sun set as her hair blew freely in the arctic winds. The cold engulfed her bare frame though as always she didn't let it bother her in the slightest. She watched as the skies bleed red before fading to black. The stars barely visible through the snow clouds. Nana hummed a soft tune as she continued her way down the shore. "Little boy, little boy why won't you sleep?" She sung lightly, closing her eyes as she slowed down her pace. "Mama's here, mama's here to sing you to sleep. Once your rise and open your eyes, mama's love will fill you up." Nana paused once she felt a heavy material cover her shoulders and opened her eyes. Seeing the burning gaze of Mihawk stare down at her.

Mihawk kept silent as he tied his cape around the cold woman. The redhead didn't even know that she was shivering and becoming pale. Once he securely had his cape in place around her, Mihawk gently picked her up in his arms. "You're so reckless." He scolded, stiffening when she moved closer to him and his body heat. "You've been in the snow for almost a week."

Nana leaned her head against Mihawk's chest. "You're an idiot."

"Not in this situation. You've made the tiger worry too much that I've been dealt to find you and bring you back." Mihawk gripped the woman tighter and ignored her groan of pain. He immediately recognised the lingering bruises, healing cuts, and dried blood on her body. The work of a punishing training regimen. Had he arrived a second later he wouldn't have noticed her condition and she would continue, stop, heal, and continue. "Where did you learn that song?" He questioned.

"I made it up," Nana replied, her eyes clouding over in memory. "It helped him sleep whenever I sang this song to him and ran my fingers through his hair." She closed her eyes and welcomed the memories this time. Filling her mind with the sweet voices. "Father was always busy and gave the boys to me to raise." She chuckled bitterly, "I was far from fit to raise children. I wasn't the person I am now."

"Your brothers?" Mihawk asked and looked down at her calm face. He didn't expect to see her look at peace, especially in his arms.

Nana hummed and opened her eyes, looking into Mihawk's curious gaze. "Somewhat. After I ate the devil fruit, I became extremely violent and manipulative, y'know. I used to enjoy tormenting people and making them suffer. I was filled with so much hatred." She heard Mihawk hum for her continue and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and looked forward. "Father was the only one able to keep me on solid ground. I didn't know what being at peace meant till I became attached to those boys and in time I was able to control the demon within me."

"You don't seem like the violent type. Strong I can see but not violent." Mihawk offered, "You placed those boys in danger and went on a rampage."

"I did." Nana nodded, "I watched one of them die and I lost all control I had. I left them to keep them safe."

"Do you miss your family?"

"Every day," Nana muttered. Clutching tightly onto his collar. "How about you? What's your family history?"

"Orphaned." He said plainly and left it at that. "Nana, is it so bad to have a companion?"

The redhead stiffened and pushed out, "Never ask to be a demon's companion, Shichibukai-sama." Nana shuffled herself out of Mihawk's arms and attempted to hand back his cloak when his hands landed on top of hers.

Mihawk caught her cold gaze and brought her hands down, holding them tightly in his own. "You're not a demon, Nana. I've seen demons and you're far from it."

Nana snorted and rolled her eyes, "You won't find a more terrifying demon." Her red eyes returned to his gaze. She leaned up on her toes and whispered in his ear teasingly, "Once I spill another person's blood I become another person. The smell and taste drives me wild - brings me to ecstasy, Shichibukai-sama." She pulled away and recognised the calculating eyes narrowing at her. She smirked and flicked her hair behind her shoulder as she said, "I don't stop and won't stop till someone more powerful than me commands it. I would've devoured the entire island all those years ago and I wouldn't feel a single thing but rage."

Mihawk saw the warrior emerge before him. Her playful but sharp gaze with the seductive and dangerous curl of her lips. Mihawk mentally shuddered at the sight of the alluring woman. She would pose more of a danger to him than he would for her if she kept this up. "Who stopped you?"

Nana's smirk widened, "Not my father that's for sure." She chuckled and blocked her face when the harsh winds picked up.

Mihawk bit the inside of his cheek when he saw the domesticated woman return. "Just which one is the real woman." The shichibukai sighed and grabbed her upper arm and dragged her along. Ignoring her complaints and guided them back to the cottage. "You're such a pain."

"At least I'm being honest with you. So far you've given me lies about yourself." Nana muttered and picked up her pace to keep up with his long legs. She shifted her gaze when he looked back at her over his shoulder and grumbled under her breath, "I just wanted to know more about you." Nana grunted when she collided with Mihawk's back and frowned. "Why'd you stop?"

Mihawk turned around and held her by the shoulders. "I'll start being honest with you if you answer this question honestly." He said seriously, gripping tighter when she tried to pull away. "Why do you stay on this island? No lies this time."

Nana sniffed and looked away angrily. "I should've known better." She muttered to herself and sighed in defeat. "It's just safer this way, okay. Especially for my family." She saw his disbelieving expression and threw her arms out wide, throwing his arms away as she said firmly, "It's true! I just told you that when I spill someone else's blood I go into a sort of frenzy and I don't stop until someone stronger comes by. It doesn't help that the devil fruit I've eaten is powered by the rage of other people. Mixing me with the public is a definite no. I may enjoy chaos but I don't enjoy hurting those I care about. The risk is too high when I'm not in control." She folded her arms defensively and looked away in shame. "It's not something I wanted to spill out to a stranger okay. I thought a smart man such as yourself would be able to put together all the hints I've given you."

Mihawk felt his brow twitch at her jab. Ignoring her insult for now and replied, "What fruit did you eat?"

Nana regarded Mihawk with caution and stepped away from him. "Perhaps I'll tell you later. I'm still mad at your for claiming my island and running me out of my home."

Mihawk stifled another sigh and followed behind her. "It's for your protection. Whatever fruit you ate is highly dangerous and your regenerative abilities would make you a large target once the World Government finds out." He could feel her annoyance but knew she needed his help now that she knew the other islands had complaints about the winter island. "I'm sure I'll piece together which fruit you have in time, Nana."

"Or you could just tell me about yourself and the outside world." The redhead spoke, pulling the cloak tighter to her frame. "Then I would answer whatever you wanted to know about me. Hell, I wouldn't even care if you tried to seduce me provided that you gave me legitimate information about the world."

Mihawk viewed the walking contradiction carefully. She was intelligent, strong, and dangerous but the loneliness was slowly consuming her that he was sure she was slowly breaking apart. He wondered perhaps she was already mad but shook that thought away when she looked back over to him. Making sure that he was still following her and saw the glint of happiness in her eyes at having someone else to talk to. She would deny it but Mihawk knew had he not come to the island, Nana would've lost her mind and attack the cub she saved. "Nana," Mihawk called out to her as they reached outside the cottage. "I was abandoned."

Nana's hand stopped just above the door handle and froze at his words.

"I sincerely apologise for the way I've behaved towards you and on my word as a swordsman I won't seduce you with ill-intentions," Mihawk spoke softly. Waiting till she turned around with wide red eyes. "Those boys - they were your sons. Not brothers," he concluded with Nana hesitating before nodding her head. "Your regenerative abilities - they keep you youthful." He stated with her nodding once more.

Nana bit her lip and looked at the snow. "They're not biologically mine."

"I know," Mihawk said. "You raised them and they are yours." Mihawk reached around her and opened the door to the warm cabin and gently nudged her in. The swordsman headed over to the small kitchen area and poured himself a glass of wine as he heard the squeals of happiness from the cub at the appearance of the redhead. Mihawk was about to put the bottle away before pouring another cup and turned to hand it to Nana.

Nana accepted the bitter drink and joined Mihawk by the fire. Back in the same spots from when they first spent the night together. "What made you want to become a swordsman?" She asked as Pumpkin brought her over a thick blanket and curled himself over her cold feet. Taking a small sip of the wine and let it settle in her mouth before swallowing.

"I was good at it," Mihawk muttered as he shrugged a blanket over his legs and watched the flames flicker. "I had no other particular talents and trained hard to survive. I went a while without ambition or a cause. Just used my talents to make money to feed and clothe myself." Mihawk sighed as old memories settled at the back of his mind. "The stronger I got the more bored I was with my life. Till I met a worthy man to rival my own strength." His lips quirked up as another redhead popped into his mind. "How old are you really?"

Nana leaned snuggly back into her chair. A frown appearing on her face as she tried to recall her true age. "Well I've aged five years physically and I ate the devil fruit when I was twenty-three so I'm guessing around seventy-eight years old. Perhaps older, I have no clue. I stopped counting once I reached forty." Nana shrugged her shoulders, not at all concerned about her old age. She tugged at a lock of her red hair with pierced lips. "Though it would be nice to grow old I suppose."

Mihawk looked at her in surprise. "You age one year every ten years then." Hearing her hum in confirmation as she twirled her hair. "Many women would be envious of your young appearance."

"It's not something to envy." Nana glanced in his direction with sadness hiding beneath her lashes. "Watching everyone else grow old as I stay young isn't what I want. Watching the people you care about die around you as you just heal as nothing had happened. Not even a single scar marking your skin. It's a curse."

"Even a curse can be broken," Mihawk replied, digesting her words as he took another sip of his drink.

"Breaking a curse has consequences." Nana rebuked and downed the entire cup of wine. Gasping in satisfaction as the burning liquid travelled down her throat and warmed her empty belly. Nana closed her eyes and let her soul reach out, feeling the rage gather towards her and let it fill her. "Besides, nobody wants to make a deal with a demon." She snapped her eyes open and glanced to Mihawk.

Mihawk tightened his grip on his cup. "You're not a demon, little red." He stated, the loneliness still prominent in her eyes.

"Perhaps not to you but to many others I am." Nana stood and removed her feet from Pumpkin's body. Heading over to the hot springs and planned to have a nice long soak. "When you leave, Shichibukai-sama, have a read about the Sanguine clan." Disappearing behind the hidden door.

Mihawk let out a deep breath as soon as he felt her move out of hearing age. Rubbing his hand tiredly over his face and breathed out forcefully. He couldn't bring himself to abandon the lonely redhead now and in the future. His previous conclusions about her were almost spot on and now he felt this burning need to know more about the lonely woman. "Tiger," Mihawk called to the napping cub and gained its attention. "Who is this father?" He asked. They had grown a close companionship over the past couple of days and the tiger was more than happy to chat away while he listened or napped.

Tiger pranced over to Mihawk and jumped up into his lap. Purring when he scratched under his chin. "He's a marine." Pumpkin said excited and looked up to Mihawk with awe clearly in his eyes. "He's extremely strong and I heard Nana once mention he's quite famous too. Pirates and criminals run in the other direction when they see him near. He's super tall - hmm definitely taller than you."

"I expected him to be a pirate," Mihawk muttered and stroked down Pumpkin's back. He wasn't going to tell Nana that he went snooping again through the cottage. "His name?"

Pumpkin shook his head. "I don't know. Nana calls him father, bastard or old man. Father calls Nana a little shit and brat." Pumpkin looked towards the door in thought. "I think you know him though since he's so famous." Pumpkin leaped off Mihawk's lap and headed towards the small bathroom and dug behind the old sink. Pulling out a crumpled photo and trotted back to Mihawk. Handing over the yellow paper. "Nana likes to look at it when she's bored. She likes to hide things and forgets where she puts them."

Mihawk turned the photo over and felt shock consume his body. His eyes widening just a fraction before he settled. "Well, this complicates things."

Pumpkin jumped back onto Mihawk's lap and look at the photo. "What's his name?" He asked as he gazed at the man's large smile as he had his right arm flexed with Nana sitting on top of his arm, grinning just as brightly as the man. The colour had faded from the picture but Pumpkin could still pick out the red hues in Nana's hair and the salt and pepper hair of the older man. Below the two stood three young boys, looking beaten and dirty up but still grinning widely. Pumpkin pointed a paw to the boy and said, "These are them."

Mihawk sighed, "Pumpkin, you've come across a very dangerous lady." He said and handed the photo back to the cat to put back. He waited till the tiger came back to his lap for the third time to explain. "That man isn't just any famous marine but the most famous of them all." He crossed his arms and frowned just a bit at the new information. He wasn't sure how his eyes missed the photograph during his two inspections.

"Who? Who? Who?" Pumpkin asked eagerly. Wanting to know before the redhead came back.

"Garp." Mihawk eased out. "Monkey D Garp."