Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

39

It was surprising how stubborn some people could be. Zoro was one of those people. Of course, Akira had known that already. But having to put in actual work to convince him he was leaving town instead of going further into it had been a mighty task. Luckily, she'd succeeded at it. Which was why she was now walking through the streets alongside him, the task of leading the way having fallen to her after she'd had the brain to ask one of the locals on where they could find someone specialising in and selling swords.

As they walked, she kept taking in the shops and display windows which seemed to litter every street. Not that it was surprising. Loguetown was not only rich in history, but also the last stop for many people wanting to get into the Grand Line. Any good merchant knew that was something to capitalize on.

She wasn't sure if it was the festival and celebration of the anniversary that brought so many people into the city or if it was usually this full, but Akira's eyes often also drifted to the people and scenes they'd pass by. Odd hair styles and clothing choices mixed together in a cacophony of colours and shapes. There seemed to be some new sight on every corner.

Although, her focus was soon brought back to the street in front of her as a bundle of blue and white suddenly appeared at her feet, catching her off guard and making her eyes snap down to her feet where a white poodle seemed to be sniffing at her hand. "Well, hello there." With a smile on her face, Akira crutched down to pet the friendly dog's head while her eyes scanned around.

She was happy to see Zoro coming to a stop and waiting for her instead of wandering off and getting lost on his own. And also relieved to see the dog's owner standing only a few feet to the side, stuck in a conversation with one of the shop keepers who had the woman trapped in the exit. It wasn't hard to conclude the dog belonged to her considering the matching blue fashion they were sporting.

With a few more scratches behind the dog's ears, Akira sent one last smile to its owner once she finally got herself free from the eager vendor and called the animal back, leaving Akira to rise back to her feet while Zoro began to move again now that the distraction was gone. However, he didn't get too far. He didn't even fully turn around yet before he was causing one of his own as he crashed into an unsuspecting woman just going about her day.

And considering the man was a boulder the size of a mountain, the poor woman was sent flying to the ground, glasses slipping off of her face and hitting the cobbled stones as they fell to the ground. "Oh man, oh man, oh man..." The small whine in her voice as she began to tap around in search of them had Akira reacting quickly as she grabbed the glasses herself.

"Here you go," she said in a friendly tone as she put the glasses right into the dark-haired woman's hand. Considering the way she was searching for them even when they were basically right in front of her, it was safe to assume that without them, the woman couldn't see much.

"Thank you." The stranger offered Akira a friendly smile as she took the glasses back, shoulders sagging in relief once they were in her hands again.

"Sorry about that," Zoro apologized as the two of them rose back to their feet.

"Ah, no, it's my fault." The woman's friendly demeanour didn't budge in the slightest as she shook her head at him in reassurance. "I'm a bit of a klutz." Brushing the spectacles against her shirt, she finally brought them back to her face.

"Kuina?" Zoro's surprised voice paired with the recognition in it had Akira's eyes snapping over to him, eyebrows furrowing as she took in the wide eyed look on his face and the surprise it so openly showed now.

"What was that?" The woman asked.

"Nothing." Zoro snapped back suddenly, shaking his head and starting to look around. He was flustered. Which was more surprising than anything. Akira had never seen the man in such a state. "You just look like someone I used to know." She didn't know whether to find it funny or to be concerned.