The next day bore no hope as the situation with Shanks was still unknown. When a ding sounded from the front door, Mihawk's hope grew a bit more. He opened the door, realizing that it was autumn as prominent colors of orange, red, and yellow filled the forest that surrounded the mansion.

"Hey old man! Give us some cover from the rain." A young girl, somewhere in the middle tens, with pink hair demanded as the rain fell outside and she held an umbrella.

"And I say tough it out! Water won't kill you." A child that was a bit younger, a boy with a head of green hair argued with the other. From the way their words spoke it was safe to assume they've been arguing for a while.

"Fine. When it stops raining, out with you two." Mihawk begrudgingly invited the two strangers into his house, simply opening the door widely with a stare of nothingness.

"It's too dark in here!" The girl squeaked and complained, immediately reaching for the light switch.

The light flickered on and at that moment the shadows that tried to consume him seemingly disappeared. His thoughts did not waver to his missing husband.

"You have anything to drink?" The green haired child asked and stumbled to look for the kitchen.

Only a few seconds and Mihawk has had more human interaction then he has had the past few months.

"If I need remind you, you two are unwanted visitors in this house. Stay put. " Mihawk complained and stumbled to get the children something to drink, likely to keep them quiet. He had a weakness for children despite how much he'd protest against it, after all he couldn't shoo them away and is now serving them drinks. "What are your names?"

"Zoro." He was more calm and straightforward, though could quickly gain a temper if things didn't go his way. He was also quite observant and only selects a few to trust.

"Perona, not like I should tell you though." She was a bit odd and strange. Expected everything to go her way and complained quite often. She can comply to orders with reason though she will still often complain. "What's your name then, old man? It's only fair. Right, Zoro?"

The young boy let out a tsk, not really wanting to agree with the other.

"That means a yes in Zoro language." She lead with another comment.

"Fine. It is Dracule Mihawk." He said while going to sit on a nearby chair.

"Which one is the first name?" Zoro asked looking at the man with whose name that was in question.

The answer was obvious to Perona though, as she stepped up to answer instead.

"It's obviously Mihawk. Are you dumb? I think the moss has gotten to your brain."

"Oh yeah!? And how was I supposed to know? Sometimes it's last name first other times it isn't!"

The two children continued to bicker back and forth, not caring if they were bothering the other that simply just read a book, looking as if he'd mastered the skill of blocking annoying people out.

"Oooooh!" Perona noticed something of her interest. "So you're married?" She spotted Mihawk's ring.

"Yes." He spoke with a voice and tone that noted he was not wanting to talk about it. That didn't stop anyone from asking though.

"Who's the unlucky one?" Zoro asked, though since his phrasing was off Perona quickly fixed it.

"Unlucky, it's quite fitting in reality. The name of my spouse is Shanks, he is my husband who disappeared over a year ago."

The two curious people shushed their mouths, sensing the unease from the situation until Zoro realised something the man said.

"You're married to another man?"

"Yes, what of it?" Mihawk's response caught the attention of both of them that seemed to scoot closer to the edge of the sofa they decided to sit on.

"So it's not weird for me to like a man?" The young boy spoke up as the girl seemed more intrigued and waiting for the response.

"In some cases, some might find it weird. I and my husband on the other hand do not think such things."

Zoro beamed at the words, as well as Perona.

"So you two are interested in someone of the same sex. I have to say I've only known one other besides myself."

The two nodded.

"Wait. Perona, you are too. Who is it... Wait it's-" Zoro was quickly cut off by her hands, making sure he didn't say any correct names. The boy bit her hand. "Will you stop it! It's not like he knows who it is!"

"He bit me! Hawk guy, he bit me!" She wined, waving the hand that Zoro bit in the air rapidly. "Gross..."

Surprisingly the two kept the lonely man entertained with their presence. This ranged from their curiosity on many subjects and their short spurts of bickering that went back on forth. Their curiosity did end up going back to his husband though, much to Mihawk's dismay.

"So your husband, how'd you meet him? Adults say that if you marry someone that person is really special, so meeting them has to be too, right?" Perona inquired, stepping over many boundaries the older man set up as he sighed.

Back a few years in the past on a rainy day, was Mihawk standing inside of a bookstore looking at a particular selection of gothic literature.

"Can you tell me what word this is? I can't find Shanks." A young boy about the age of four asked, holding up an obvious children's book and pointing to a word. He grinned happily with his oversized straw hat.

"Luffy will you save me some trouble and stop talking to strangers for once?" A man with red hair called out for the boy, this man was none other then the mentioned Shanks. "I'm sorry about that, forgive him would yah?" Shanks spoke with a wink and ushered Luffy to his side.

"Keep him under wraps." Mihawk answered as his attention went to the book he was deciding on whether or not to buy.

"Yes mister hot guy, will do." The red haired man stared intently catching each detail of the man he called hot.

"That child ran off again."

Shanks instantly went into panic mode looking for the little rascal that had a mind of his own entirely. He didn't have to move, he saw Luffy run back into his direction with cuffed hands. He instantly ran past Shanks and to Mihawk and splashed water on him. Luckily for Mihawk his instincts kicked in and pulled the book away from the waters reach though still got wet.

"Um. Uh. Wait. Luffy. Why did you just do that?" Shanks asked nervously.

"You said he was hot. I helped him out. Shishishi!"

"Please, please, please tell me that was sink water Luffy." Shanks once again had to deal with the child.

"It was quicker to get it from the toilet. I didn't have to turn the sink knob thing. Kind of gross though..." The child's personality, looks, and everything else made it hard to stay mad at him for very long.

"Eh heh heh... Forgive him again?"

"Okay, and how did you meet him again?" Perona questioned further.

"His job was in the building next to the bookstore. I simply returned to buy the next volume of the book I purchased."

As the day went on and the hours past, the two visitors needed to take their leave. In a way neither one wanted to go, but they realized the time and they had to go. They opened the door to leave and were happily greeted with a warm coloured sky filled with scattered clouds and no more rain.

"We can come again, right?" Zoro asked, sort of shyly.

"If you say no he'll probably find a way inside."

"If you two behave, anytime." In reality Mihawk almost didn't believe he told them they could return again. Their presence helped his mood lift drastically. When they left his mood went back to being depressed, though better then before. Unknowingly he flipped the light switches on and the occasional glimpses of Shanks disappeared. The light seemed to drive away the shadows more and more as the angels of light drew back the demons of the dark.