The Greatest (Zoro x Tashigi)

Chapter 8: Little Things

Morning, second day at sea

I let out a quiet, controlled breath. Katana shivering as I hold it, arms fully extended and aching.

Missed the release point. Two points to the left.

I grind my teeth as I keep my arms extended. Punishment for still not getting it right. I've been repeating this drill for two hours now! I should be able to master it! Not be missing critical execution points and be standing here with shakey arms after just half a night of practice.

Behind me, the sun rises over the east waters. Flecking specks of gold into the fresh, long shadows of the rails on the back deck. In the corner, the corner tucked under a barrel and hidden behind sacks of rope, the blue prints to Rieno lay flat on the deck planks.

Indecipherable.

I grit my teeth, and slip into the start position for the drill.

Again.

I had slipped to Robin and Nami's room when I left dinner last night to grab my knapsack and head back to the garden space. Borrowing a candle from the library, I spent half the night studying the dotted lines and complicated keys.

Trying to deepen my shallow breathes, I slide my foot back, then start the complicated pattern of the drill. Blade thrust forward, up, pull back, right left, spin to counter, extend, parry-

The legends are true. There's only one way in. And it requires clearance. Even if I pretended to be shipwrecked or wounded, it would get me to the village. Not the base. And I need the base. I need the base and, if possible, I need that access to be legal.

--'Not all laws are good, but to break the law is always bad.'--

I suck in a jagged breath as I fall into the rhythm of the drill. And it transforms from a drill to a dance. Intricate, delicate, precise.

precise.

precise.

perfect.

I damned the law long ago. When the straw hats saved Alabasta, and the Navy continued the slaughter in marine ford, and working with pirates saved the lives of children in a frozen tundra juxtaposed with lava and ice.

But ohh how dangerous is the arrogance of personal justice.

-parry, thrust, duck, block, attack. attack. attack. attack.

I let out a quiet, controlled breathe. My katana quivers in the dawn. Arms fully extended and quaking. Bruises inflamed around broken ribs. Blacks bags under my heavy eyes. Recently dislocated shoulder stinging. Skin burning. Stomach craving. Nausea denying. I swallow, throat dry.

Two points to the left. and I missed the release again.

When one deserts the navy, foolishly believing she is justified, how much must she adhere to the remaining laws?

TASHIGI POV:

Mid morning sun beats down on the deck as I lean on the wall next to the boys dorm; eyebrows knitted in thought and lips twitched down in a permanent frown.

scenarios running amok in my head.

3. hours.

3 hours I studied those blue prints this morning and nothing.

I need access to the archives. That's it! Access to the archives and enough time to search for this mysterious artifact. Access to the archives, enough time to search for the artifact, and enough luck to pray this damn legend locator is pocket sized.