You stared below your feet at the white salty crystals that showed your reflection, the reflection showing your face despite the salt underneath your feet was just that. Salt.

The clouds were over you, white and grand and fluffy with the sky a pure blue. And the crystals below you reflected that as well—like a mirror. Or an edge really.

The salt being stretched for miles everywhere you looked—all you saw was white and white reflecting the sky's blue and fluffy clouds.

As well as you making faces at the ground, squatting down and leaning your face down towards the flat salty ground below you.

You don't really know why you decided to leave the Red Haired pirates campsite for a bit to travel the land by your lonesome, you love the crew's cheer and loud songs with alcohol always seeming to drip around everywhere somehow. Yasopp's pride as a father about his son and a childhood of the East Blue, brave members of the crew trying to out eat Lucky Roux(you tried once with your favorite dish, you got up to seven before you had to quit before you threw up as a release for the explosion wanting to release from your body. A bite still halfway down your throat and a laughing Shanks having to pat your back strongly for you to finally swallow from surprise due to your nearly spitting at Lucky's victorious face), and Benn being the calmest and practically the babysitter even though he laughs at the others antics. And Shanks...

Well...

You thought of the feeling of the heat of the sun on your cheeks. The ray's washing over you brightly in a way sometimes that can make you squint from the brightness.

Shanks.

Maybe you do know why you separated from them for a bit.

Your face paused in thought, your tongue still out as you stared at yourself with quite an odd expression on your face. Staring at the reflection that stared back, moving to touch the rim of your marine cap and watching as the one below followed the movement as you stared at your pensive (e/c) eyes and your scarred left cheek. Kuroi ten'nosabaki dark metal reflecting with the sun behind your back as if in an echo with Karasu on your hip merely glinting yet silent.

How did you get to know someone like—

"Don't eat the salt," you leaned forward in surprise, your hand somehow making your hat slip off your head as you met a face full of salt. "Oh, too late I see! Dahahaha! What are you doing all the way here by yourself?"

You sat up, spitting out salt from your mouth with your eyes squinted to oblivion as you swiped your face. Shanks getting closer to you with a smile, arm casually leaning against his sword Gryphon on his hip.

"You're making that face you make when you wake up when our favorite primate decides to do his morning jumping on our backs," Shanks teased with a laugh as you flushed, remnants of salt still around your mouth as he moved and stood over you. "Your eyes are practically gone you know. Guess you didn't see the salt, eh?"

He laughed, and you would've laughed with him if you weren't so surprised at his presence. You must've been too in your thoughts to sense him. Also, what he said was embarrassing!

You make ugly faces when you just wake up!

"S-Shanks, be quiet! My eyes aren't that bad when I wake up... a-and you just surprised me! I wasn't thinking of eating the salt!"

Shanks made a doubtful face, playful.

"You sure?"

"...it does taste quite salty."

"For your sake," Shanks answered, eyes serious. "I hope it's only salt you're tasting. And not anything else. It is on the ground you know."

Your eyes widened, blanching as you held your head.

"YOU DONT THINK I ATE PISS DID I?!"

"Who knows."

"Wha—YOURE NEVER GONNA LIVE THIS DOWN!"

Shanks let out a hearty laugh, red hair flowing in the wind as he winked down at you. You slightly flushing at the look.

"Only if you let me! Besides, who knows for sure?" You looked away, grumbling as you sat with crossed legs that you really hope you didn't get an extra ingredient with the salt and feel more of an idiot that earlier you actually wanted to taste it without having to get surprised from his presence. Shanks staring at you all the while with a calm smile, before releasing a quiet sigh through his nose at you and sat next to you. His shoulder bumping against yours as he did so, making you look over at him only for your eyes to widen. Shanks getting a handful of the salt in front of him and stuffing his face with it, his face turning pale at the strong flavor before having to spit it out with his tongue slightly out in disgust as you asked him what the heck that was for. "What? Now we're both idiots."

Your lips parted as your eyes widened, only for your cheeks to join in when Shanks put a hand to your head and ruffled it with a close eyed grin.

"Just say you got me back by tripping me or—HACK!" Shanks choked with tears in his eyes, hand to his throat as you panicked. "It's really salty!"

"You didn't have to do that, Shanks!" You shouted, leaning towards him by moving to kneel beside him and rubbing his black cloaked back encouragingly to help him as you stared in worry. "Ahhh man, you still got salt in the back of your throat, huh? Which one of us is the real idiot?"

Shanks, after coughing up a few more salt balls, glanced at you with a knowing smile.

"I wonder..." You yelled a stuttered hey, wondering what he meant with your hand still to his back as Shanks only chuckled, the feeling being felt with your hand. Turning towards the landscape that was a mirror in thought. "What has you here all alone? You never said."

You paused, the other hand near your cap on the salty flat twitching before you dropped the hand to the kind red haired captain's back as you sat back down with crossed legs. Grabbing your cap to have it between your legs and touching along the letters of 'Marine' and the rim, what you tend to do when you think.

"Just thinking."

"About?"

"...nothing much really." You answered, your gaze facing to the landscape that had the blue upon the ground and sky with cotton clouds above and below and your form having another now next to you. Less alone. Shanks staring at you from the corner of his eye as you observed the area around you, your lips up but not quite meeting your faraway (e/c). "I was just looking at this place...it really deserves the name of the Salty Shores. It just fits you somehow, I guess. It's a nice territory."

Shanks hummed, leaning his head against his hand as he moved his autumn brown eyes towards the phenomenon that one will have to see to believe.

"They call it the border between Heaven and Earth," Shanks said, you peering at his face beside you, his lips formed into those small quiet smiles he does. "The rain makes it clear like this. As if you're walking amongst the sky and the clouds. The salt mounds around here if you step on it just as you stare down at the reflective clouds can make it seem like you're actually stepping on clouds..."

You moved your gaze to one of the salt mounds several feet away from the two of you, small yet wide and for a moment you wanted to try.

What is it like to step on clouds? The ones closest to the sun?

As you stared at the mound, you didn't see Shanks eyes flit back towards you. Autumn eyes soft as he read your expression with curious wonder, unguarded and free. Like you're meant to look. Not what he saw when he walked towards you.

Although your tongue out was cute.

"If you want," you turned and met Shanks eyes, autumn looking through (e/c) as his pulled up on one side as he held his head, "I can be the bridge for you in between the border. Of anything you can't cross."

You don't know why, but you flushed although your brows furrowed.

"I don't think you can carry me that high Shanks."

Shanks blinked, raising his head from his hand.

"I wasn't—"

"Unless you're planning to throw me...that'd be really fun but I'm pretty heavy and I would have to have one foot on your one hand so you could do it."

"You don't get at all what I was saying—" Shanks whined, shoulders deflating although maybe it's best you didn't understand. "And pointing out the one hand thing was pretty cruel, (Y/N)!"

You tilted your head, frowning in disappointment.

"So...no throwing?"

"You don't have to make that face!" Shanks playfully shouted before standing up and wrapping a hand around your bicep to bring you up with him. His face than turning mischievous, putting an arm around your shoulders as you slightly flushed. "I'm glad to see that you're confident in my abilities to catch you though when I throw you. The landing won't be soft if you don't pay attention. Salt isn't soft at all."

You turned your head towards him, peering up at him as they walked back. Eyes suspiciously cautious.

"You sure you won't need Benn's help? Maybe... a hand?"

Your shoulders felt empty as Shanks squatted down the floor, crocodile tears going down his face.

"So cruel, (Y/N)! Benn and some of the other guys already make fun!"

"H-hey, I'm joking!" You said nervously, not wanting to hurt your saviors feelings. Especially since you know his arm was lost for good reasons. "I don't—"

Shanks turned, tongue sticking out.

"Gotcha~!"

You stared gobsmacked before moving and punching him lightly on the shoulder with a call of his name as he stood and laughed. The both of you walking back side by side, casual conversation and teases and jokes back and forth, the mirror of the Heavens and Earth reflecting the both of you along.

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You didn't have to travel very far, which you were grateful for. Only took a couple of days to locate the red head and his crew. When you were getting closer to the island the Red-Haired Pirates seemed to be inhabiting as of now, you spotted a familiar unique small boat with a sitting figure on it.

You grinned.

"Oi! Mihawk!" The figure turned around and you were met with piercing gold eyes seeing your form, your arms waving frantically back and forth as you looked at him with excitement. He didn't say or do anything but look at you blankly, as you tried to move your boat faster. Using Geppo against the waves, your legs on the ocean to catch up to Mihawk. Once you were next to him you leaned against the side of your boat to look at him.

"Sup Mihawk? How you've been?"

"(Y/N). What are you doing here?" You opened your mouth to answer until he cut you off.

"Don't answer. I already know." You looked at him with a frown.

"Then why did you even ask..." You muttered out as you looked to the side, only to look back at him quizzically. "Wait, how would you know?"

Mihawk stared at you with his piercing gaze, replying, "You always loved to be around the Red-Hair." You blushed at his statement and stuttered "H-he just throws good parties you know? And... I l-like his company." Mihawk said nothing as he continued to gaze at you, you didn't mind it though. You were aware of his tendency to stare at you without saying anything, it weirded you out sometimes though.

"Hey, can we spar?" You looked at him excitedly, you haven't sparred with him in awhile, and you wanted to test your abilities. He gave you a once over, and replied with a "Not now." You pouted, saying they haven't fought in awhile and wondered out loud if he was scared that the student perhaps passed the teacher. He gave you a silencing look, which you let out a nervous chuckle and sweat drop at.

You loved the relationship you had with your teacher Mihawk. Soon after you became a pirate, you came across Mihawk once again in one of your visits to Shanks. He remembered you from the first meeting, and decided to indeed train you. Although it took some coaxing.

You gave them a confident grin and a determined glare.

"Yeah. I'm his daughter. And I'm going to be the strongest woman in the world!"

With how you entered the Warlords meeting with the marines in Holy Marijoa all those years ago, of course the impression would stick. Especially if it was the meeting right before you left the marines. A new dream on your mind, your childhood one already crushed and destroyed to go for.

You trained with him for one year in his lonely and dark mansion. You remembered questioning him always on how he lived here before, without anyone else around. Mihawk always saying he enjoys the silence. You weren't convinced however. You'd always make sure to at least get him out of his mansion to do something, which was always sparring and training if you managed to convince him away from his books and wine. You didn't mind it, the sweat. The blood. The gasps of breath in trying to keep up with his training. Made you feel. It made you stronger.

And the strongest woman in the world has to be strong after all.

But when they were inside the castle, instead of wanting to rest like any other normal person would. You wanted to do something with the serious swordsman. Whether it was trying and failing to make a cake for him, or just talking with him while he read his books. He'd claim that you were loud sometimes, and he'd give you these looks that immediately made you stop at whatever you were trying to do despite your normal fiery nature. You giving a nervous laugh as you gave him a sheepish smile, scratching the back of your head or your freshly scarred cheek.

As time passed though, it seemed his looks were less sharper as he looked at you. Him seeming to get used to your presence and company, or maybe that was just the hopeful side of you talking. But you couldn't help but see that he talked more now, instead of just three sentences with each conversation they had, it increased. Allowing you to get closer to his side of the table as the months passed. Not only that, but he wasn't just an amazing master, but a nice host. You even heard him play his guitar, a skill you wished you had. He'd make the most beautiful music with it, that you always had to close your eyes with a small appreciative smile as you listened. And when he'd stop, you always wished for him to keep going, but only let out a pleased sigh off of your lips as you opened your eyes again. Only to have Mihawk's golden eyes staring at you with a look you couldn't place.

He always did that too...but he's not the first man with eyes you couldn't quite read.

And the first time he called your name instead of your title, was when you were having a nightmare one night. Months passed since you first arrived. And you couldn't help but give him a bright smile and pointed it out after you recovered successfully from it.

"You called my name." You remembered saying when you sat atop your bed and he brought you tea he brewed. Gold eyes staring at you as he handed you the steaming cup carefully. "You called my name," you repeated, "Instead of calling me Silver Blood." You looked at him softly, eyes tired yet still feeling happy that the distant man finally called you by your name after months of living with him.

He said nothing as he sat in the chair by your bed, merely stirring his tea with a spoon before he tapped the back of your hand holding your cup and letting it stay there before saying a soft "I did." Giving a small nod with a ghost of a smile before pulling back. You recalling that when you drank the tea and laid back down, you feeling soft touches to your cheeks before the click of a door closed to your room.

By the time that he said that you had to train by yourself, you were hesitant in leaving. You didn't like the thought of him being alone in his big and empty mansion, the only soul living in it being him. Unless you counted the Humandrills in the rest of the island but that shouldn't count...You thought to yourself that perhaps you can just stay with him in his mansion, but, you wanted to get stronger on your own.

You wanted to explore the rest of the world with your newfound freedom. Leashed too long.

So when your small boat was ready, your makeshift mast in the middle of your small boat, they stood in front of each other. Mihawk saying that he would like to see you progress the next time they meet. You frowned at his formality of his sentence, not liking it one bit.

"I'll visit." You said, Mihawk raised an eyebrow.

You smiled at his questioning expression.

"I'll visit anytime I'm close Mihawk. It's lonely in this big mansion of yours, and I'd hate for my master to suffer that feeling."

Mihawk raised his brows in surprise at your statement, you only smiling brightly at him.

"Also, let's spar the next time we see each other. Maybe you can teach me more on how to properly do that chicken and rice too, I feel like it's almost perfect and much better than my first time! And I'd love to hear that guitar of yours the next time I come here , you play it beautifully Mihawk." He said nothing but stare at you with incredulous eyes, eventually letting out an of course with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Your smile softened.

"And Mihawk?"

"Yes?" You hugged the Warlord, squeezing him tightly as he staggered back in surprise at the foreign contact. You expressed your thanks as you held him, your cheek against his bare chest with your arms around his waist. That he was a wonderful teacher and host, and you cannot wait to show him when your dream comes true. He eventually returned your hug, his arms gently around your waist with his head on top of your shoulder. When you pulled back, he let his arms fall to his sides. And when you were finally about to leave, he grabbed your hand, you looking back at him in surprise. He kneeled with your hand still in his, as he took off his hat and put it against his chest. The action was so charming that you couldn't help but blush, feeling flustered and embarrassed at such an action. Which only increased when he kissed the back of your hand, his piercing but beautiful eyes looking into yours. He whispered out words you couldn't hear, but you heard him say his own goodbye. Also giving you a piece of his vivre card to the hand he kissed. When he stood up, he was met with a red faced (Y/N), and you were sure he saw his lips twitch into a ghost of a smile. You couldn't tell if it was proud or amused, maybe both? And he kept it until you were already in your boat, a distance away. You waved at him and yelled you would see him later.

And you did. You made visits whenever you could to his island, staying only a few days before the call of the sea and adventure wanted you back. Or rather, the call to keep getting stronger and stronger—despite of some of your master's warnings that you should watch yourself on who you fight and mess with. Mostly due to that one time... well, more than one time you think. But nonetheless, you enjoyed the time they spent with each other. And how Mihawk's lips sometimes twitched in amusement, wanting to smile, but could not when you did or said something stupid. You after all tried your best to make the swordsman laugh or smile.

Cause everyone should smile when living in this world, you thought each time.

When your conversation went to Shanks though, he would have this look in his golden eyes that you couldn't interpret as you spoke vividly of your savior on what you did with him the last time you saw him. You thought it was because on how you were speaking about his old rival of swordsmanship that he lost because of Shanks losing his arm.

Either way, you loved the Worlds Greatest Swordsman's company.

Despite how stoic he always seemed to look. You learned that's just his face.

Once the both of you landed on the island, you docked your boats and began to walk towards where the Red-Haired Pirates were. You walked with your arms crossed behind your head, an already excited smile on your face. Mihawk silently looked at you and your expression, you not noticing a thing as you stared straight ahead as they walked side by side. Your eyes then brightened in remembrance as you said that you met the Strawhats.

"Oh?"

You smiled at him and confirmed it, saying that they'll become something. And Zoro was intense, wanting to fight you the moment he laid eyes on you. Even discussing the scar on his chest that he received from the worlds greatest swordsman. Mihawk turned his head towards you and asked did you? You telling him of course not, perhaps when he gets stronger. "But don't worry Master, he's your rival not mine. I won't steal him away." He suddenly tugged you towards him, you feeling his hard chest as he brought his lips to your ear. "I told you to stop calling me that." You looked up at him and gave a sheepish smile as you scratched your nose, giving a small apology as you tried to pull away but failed. You looked back up at him with a small frown, but then froze.

His gold eyes held you in, his face just a few centimeters away from your own. You felt your cheeks heat up at the closeness, as his piercing gaze looked at you.

" If that Red-Hair won't do anything, I will." He whispered, his breath fanning your face as he brought you closer to his lips

.

.

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Edited 04/30/21

I felt a little too vague with how SB and Shanks relationship is. Same with Mihawk and SB.

I wanted it vague but MAN! I really made it vague for you guys. XD Sorry about that. I like mystery. And there still is plenty of it!

I think I'm also going to start posting others fanarts in first few edited chapters too. I have wayyyy too many fanarts I want to show off. I'm just going to have to change a few fanarts of where exactly they'll go...I think the first few ones and the memes ones will be fine for the first few chapters since they'll be spoiler free.

Anything after though...

Anyways! Hope you liked it! 💗
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AHHHHHHHHH~~~!! You're awfully close there to Reader-San Mihawk~! ^_^

And the past between you and Mihawk is revealed. Kinda. Didn't show the first meeting however. So you guys might still be lost.

Good.

This arc will be a short one and then we'll move on to the next canon arc and place.

http://luckyshiney.deviantart.com/art/Shanks-and-Mihawk-Render-384067627

Recommended soundtrack above for this story. I also recommend the Sad Soundtrack for One Piece.

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**Kuroi ten'nosabaki🗡🎇 💀(Black Heaven's Judgement): your black sword with a sheen of silver buster sword that's carrie son your back. Think of it like Cloud's sword from Final Fantasy or Zabuza's sword from Naruto.

(Your sword is a mix of Cloud's and Zabuza's, there is no hole in your sword, but there IS a half moon cut in it. But the half moon cut near the top of the sword.)

**Karasu(Raven): your noticeably smaller and total black sword that is on your hip. You can imagine whatever sword you want, but perhaps the Chokuto sword will fit. Like Sasuke's sword from Naruto Shippuden.

**Tekkai: Iron Body. Defense technique taught by the marines where your body turns hard like iron.

**Soryu: Shave. Where you can move in an instant flash in a burst of high speed. Taught and learned normally by marines.

**Geppo: Moon Walk. A move where it appears you're jumping in midair, when it's just the strength of your legs moving quickly and touching the ground that keeps you upright. You often used this when you're on your small boat so you can go faster on sea. Taught and learned normally by marines.

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**FANART CORNER BECAUSE I HAVE TOO MUCH AND WANT TO SHARE ALL**

@Jo3_he / @Rose_Tran / @Jo-he3 / @Jo-he3 / @Jo3-he / @Joe_he3

THANKS AGAIN!!! 💗💗