The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 46: Kaori vs. Miss Labor Day

⚠️Content Warning: Blood/Gore/Injury⚠️

The dull roar of battle poured over the city as the rebel and royal armies clashed at the southern gate. Miss Labor Day pumped her fist into the air and jumped up and down. She did not make a sound, even as her feet hit the ground.

I gritted my teeth in anger and punched the cobblestone street. A low growl rumbled in my throat as I pushed myself up to stand. I grasped the senbon needle in my arm and yanked it out with a pained hiss. The sharpened metal hit the ground with a ting as I snarled, "Just what the hell are you celebrating about? You don't have the luxury of being distracted now that I'm your opponent."

Miss Labor Day stopped jumping and turned toward me. Now that I stood next to her, I noticed that she only came up to my shoulder. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head in a coy manner.

I felt my lip twitch in frustration as I forced a sinister smile. My hands curled into tight fists at my sides as I shook my head with a dark laugh, "Guess you're not one for small talk. Fine by me. Actions speak louder than words anyway!"

As I threw myself forward to punch her, the mime simply squatted down and easily ducked under my swing. I quickly recovered and attempted to kick her. However, she leapt backwards and performed a cartwheel to gain more distance.

Not wanting her to get out of my reach, I dashed after her. As I closed the gap, I sensed her swing her arm up. Something snagged my tunic between my calves as I ran, "Another senbon needle?! She must be trying to trip me. How am I supposed to dodge projectiles that small?"

With a snarl, I reeled my right fist back and swung to catch her ribs. The mime sidestepped my attack and patted at the air between us. The wall bloomed out of her palms just as I turned to strike her again, cutting off my attack. My knuckles slammed against the wall with all my weight behind it, but the barrier did not budge.

I let out a small hiss of anger as I gathered my thoughts, "Damn it! Think, Kaori. There's gotta be a catch or something to this girl's power. Look beyond the wall and see her. Focus harder!"

My brow furrowed as I attempted to concentrate and see Miss Labor Day's position on the other side. I uncurled my hand and pressed my palm against the wall. Through my contact with the solid surface, I was able to sense the mime's hands pressed against the other side.

I bowed my head in determination before I took a step back and braced my legs. With a grunt, I sprang up, leaping clear over the mime's wall. As I reached the top, I could more clearly sense Miss Labor Day on the other side. She pulled her hands away from the wall and spun to face me as I landed behind her. The moment her hands broke away from the surface of the wall, it dissipated.

The young woman swung both her arms at me and I felt more tugging on my tunic. A senbon needle stuck into my sleeve while another caught right next to my ribs, barely grazing me without piercing my flesh.

"Will you cut that out, already?!" I growled in annoyance as I grasped the needles and pulled them out of my tunic.

The mime leaned to one side and gently tapped her chin with her finger before shaking her head at me and swinging her arm toward me again. I leapt to the side, hoping that I was dodging her attack, but I could not sense where the needle was going.

My lip curled in frustration as I felt another tug at my tunic near my calf, "Damnit! Following her arm movement isn't enough. I have to end this quickly before she manages to start doing some real damage!"

With a quick dash, I made as if I were going to jab at her, but ducked down and kicked to try and sweep her legs out from under her.

The young acrobat effortlessly leaned away from both of my strikes, hopping over my kick and landing with her arms above her head. She made an exaggerated flick of her wrist over her mouth as if she was stifling a yawn.