'There is hardly anything that can replace the euphoria of hard work paying off'.
That was about to become my new personal motto.
"Ha~" With my lungs filled to the maximum I released a long exaltation of peace and relaxation, I was leaning on the edge of the bath relaxing with my arms sprawled and my head straight, my lady was all over me.
Her seductive body was bereft of attires, moist and bright. Her wet long raven hair cascaded down until it reached her waist. She had a small knife in her hand and was doing what we used to do whenever she had an opportunity.
Trimming my hair. Aside from lovemaking, there is hardly an activity I enjoy with her more than this, the last time we did this was a few months ago.
"You turned sixteen recently and a lot of hair is starting to grow, we have to keep it trimmed, Veyron" Her voice sounded stern, "Come to me as soon as it gets out of control".
Because I'm always in the workshop I don't even pay attention to such matters, let alone during the first years of this life I never had to worry about such a thing as hair, it is only now that it is starting to become bothersome. In my previous life, I was not somebody with a lot of facial or body hair, but in this life... let's just say I might as well become a white lion with a massive mane if I let it grow too much.
"But what if the girls like me hairy?" I pondered, thinking that I never actually paid attention to what part of me they're physically attracted to or what features they'd like for me to change or retain. I was even thinking that leaving myself a nice bushy white beard was something they might like as it would make me look older.
My mom had other plans though.
"I don't care what they like. You're not going around looking like Larry and Kong's brother and that's final, Veyron".
"..."
Her hands were skilled and her knife sharp. With that speed and hastiness, I would have undoubtedly cancelled if it was anyone else without leaving a tip, afraid for my life. But this is the strongest swordswoman we're talking about.
She finished me off in roughly half an hour, I didn't think it would take that long, but she paid special attention to care and trimmed me all over, not just my head. When she got me a mirror, I was astonished.
'The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree...'
If I allowed my hair to grow a bit more, I could perfectly look like the Mihawk I remember from the series, it wasn't exactly like his... but she made me look like a sacred knight.
I had to resist the urge to laugh as she tilted her head in confusion, thinking that I didn't like it. I'm just amused that the female version of Mihawk... is trying to make me look like the male version.
"You don't like it?"
"I love it... thanks mom".
"Let's clean it".
She made me lean down and I exhaled yet another breath of pleasure as she started to wash my hair. I don't care what anyone says... a motherly wife is a bargain no one should pass out off.
I closed my eyes and relaxed, for the next twenty minutes, she washed my hair and gave me a mild massage with her skilled hands. The warmth of the water, and the cosiness of the vapour. I almost fell asleep but it would have been a waste to not enjoy this up to the last moment.
When she finished her hands cupped my cheeks, and she splashed some water to get rid of the leftover soap hair that fell in the bath.
"Handsome..."
"Don't you love me like that?~"
"I'd prefer if you were a bit uglier".
"Heh?" My eyebrows twitched, that has to be a lie.
"That way there wouldn't be so many girls falling for you at every corner, you'd stay with me in Kuraigana. Just the two of us..."
Okay, maybe that's what she really thinks.
"Your possessiveness is leaking, mom".
She glued herself against my body, and the water fluttered lightly as we hugged each other, exhaling a deep breath of innocent pleasure, this time she released alongside me, relieving me that she was enjoying this just as much as I was. I would have wanted to do the same for her... but clearly, she does it herself as the Mihawk I'm seeing right now is just perfect and immaculate.
We have been married for five years and I still can't believe she's my wife.
I have spent more than a decade in this world and at this stage I might as well thank the bastard that put that bullet in my head, what was his name again? I forgot, 'If you're not in hell then I hope you're in the heavens, thanks for sending me to this paradise, brother~'.
"I wouldn't mind staying like this forever..." She uttered.
"Me too, we just need a bottle of wine and some newspapers".
"Just the bottle... with you here I'm entertained enough".
"You're being quite cheesy~".
She's not usually this flirty but I guess having their first time does change people, she has been a lot more open with me about her concerns and desires, and I appreciate that as she's always the most aloof and distant out of all my girls.
As if to prove my theory, her finger drew a line and moved my chin until our eyes met, her lips engulfed mine in a way that left me breathless.
Words can't describe how happy I am.
...
"Now that everything is finished, what are your plans? Back to the workshop?"
"Tell me yours first. What did you leave to do, Mom?"
I don't usually enquire about her whereabouts but keeping track of her just in case is something that I have been thinking lately. I have respected her strength even before I met her, I'm confident in her power and experience but events lately have made me realise strength is not everything in this world.
Sometimes you can be just unlucky and face someone with the most stupid abilities, like Sugar or Isabel. Even now, I'm trying to wrap my head around what Isabel's powers are, let alone how to counter them.
For me right now, it is not about becoming stronger... I'm already quite strong. I could kill Kaido, I can certainly do it again. I can destroy Islands and countries easily single-handedly. But there are still individuals who can cause trouble with me.
'I need more security measures' That's my objective this time around. I already have the first piece I need to start: The air combustion engine.
Mihawk looked at me with a frown, her beautiful yet dangerous eyes woke me up from my train of thought.
"Well, I hunted a few heads in the south blue and met some people that owe me favours, that ship you made for me facilitates things, it is very fast".
I did create a small vessel for her, it was based on the one I saw her use in the manga... except that aside from looking cool, that thing was just so insecure that it was like asking for death.
"And those people were...?" I inquired further, ignoring her secretism.
"Are you worried about me? You don't have to" She left my embrace and leaned to the edge of the bath in front of me just like I was doing.
"Before I met Shanks I used to be a bounty hunter so I know a few people who I could have killed but I didn't. I put in Impel Down but also helped them escape..."
"Wait, can you escape Impel Down?" I thought it was impossible, even in the manga for Luffy's group it was quite difficult and we're talking about two warlords involved.
"Have you forgotten I'm a warlord? I have that authority. But it wasn't necessary... haven't you asked yourself why you were able to talk to Emporio Ivankov in Alabasta?"
"That's true... Ivankov was imprisoned, right?" I never asked that crazy head as we were in a bit of a rush at that time.
"One of the old legends, The Golden Lion Shiki, has escaped Impel Down... I don't know how he did it or who helped him, but it was a big commotion in which a lot of prisoners from the upper levels managed to flee... Ivankov was one of them".
'The Golden Lion, Shiki'.
"He's a pirate from Roger's times, pretty strong. This time around I head to Impel Down on my way to the south blue to see someone but it turns out he escaped... a load of troublesome bastards left that prison this time around"
She sighed and looked troubled.
"Who is this person you went to see?"
"It is someone I did a favour to once... his name is Douglas Bullet".
'Douglas Bullet...? That name doesn't ring a bell at all'.
"He's very strong and wicked but he's purposeful. I wish to create a secret crew of strong members… we will be a line of defence and offence for the Liberators. I want to release some weight from your shoulders. That's what I have been doing".
She looked irritated; like she didn't want to tell me this.
I laughed and hugged her instead, "Did you want it to be a surprise?~"
"…" She evaded my gaze, I was expecting a cute put but she never did it.
I picked her up again and she yelped, heading back to the bed.
"Wait, we're wet!"
"And we will get even wetter".
You can't be so considerate, beautiful and cute and expect me to do nothing to you...
"Tonight we don't sleep, mom~".