A young swordsman's adventure 18

Sure enough, Tanya’s preparation for the forge to be set up in transit came in handy as Kuina got into forging herself a metal pegleg immediately.

Tanya would ordinarily veto such a decision, but she could see how the girl’s haki surged, granting her the strength to push past all limits to turn her goal into a concrete object representing her oath. Father would never forgive her if she was to snuff that ambition with something as inconsequential as ‘fire safety’.

“Zoro.” Tanya said, standing on the front turret. “You mentioned you wanted to see the gap between our strengths?” She asked rhetorically. 

The boy grinned savagely. “I said I wanted to duel you.”

“Well, I’m afraid I have no blade small enough to make that fight fair.” She said, drawing Shodai Kitetsu. “So I shall demonstrate the attack power of the heir to the World’s Strongest Swordsman.”

“So that was Hawk-Eyes.” Zoro said triumphantly. “Months, he waited right under my nose. I saw him train you, he didn’t impress.”

Tanya chuckled. “I had picked up a sword for the first time mere weeks before arriving on Shimotsuki. There was no need for the World’s Strongest to exert himself in the presence of novices.”

Zoro looked like he wanted to dispute that logic, but instead turned towards the front of the boat. “So what are you cutting?” He asked. “I don’t see any sea kings or islands or ships or anything.”

“Kuina’s work will be impeded if the waters get too rough.” Tanya explained, “There’s a storm ahead. I’ll need to fix that.”

The boy nodded for a moment, as if what she said was normal, but then what she said seemed to actually register. “Wait, you mean… You’re going to cut the storm?” He asked, flabbergasted. 

Tanya grinned. “Pay attention, this will be on the test.” She said mockingly, taking a stance. She took a deep breath as she focused her haki, funneling that mystical force into Shodai Kitetsu. An inconvenient muscle cramp delayed her buildup of strength, but she forged on through the inconvenience. “Black Blade Flash: Storm Cutter!” She shouted in Wanogo, slashing upward and unleashing a massive flying slash, so quick and dispersed that it could not be perceived by all but the most discerning eyes. 

The troublingly dark clouds in front of them split in two, each side suddenly becoming displaced by about a quarter of their size, but they continued to move apart. By the time they cross, there will be nothing but clear skies. 

“N-no way…” Zoro said, staring at the results of her attack. 

“Think of the East Blue as a well, or a dark cave lit by a flickering fire.” Tanya said simply. “From within, the frog cannot grasp the enormity of the world. The mountain in front of you that must be climbed is tall, Roanoa Zoro.” She glanced at his face again. Ah, he was starting to smile. Good. “My father is far stronger than I, able to do what I did to this weak Blue Sea storm to the titanic thunderheads of the Grand Line with half the effort.” Granted, he was usually closer to the storms before cutting them. “If you put an Island in the sky, he could cut it in twain with the same ease.” Tanya sheathed her sword. “Tell me, when you see this feat, what is your thought? Does the size of the mountain intimidate you? Crush your hope?”

“No.” Zoro said immediately. “It makes me grin…” He said, his honesty painted on his face. “-to think of the day that I can surpass you!”

Tanya sat herself down gently. “Then reclaim Wado Ichimonji, and prove that you can defeat a pirate from the strongest sea!” Well, it was a paradise pirate, so that was an exaggeration. But he needed the ego boost if he was going to win. 

Hopefully she’ll be able to get away with not fighting in this state. 

-------------------------

As it turned out, Captain Downer had decided that leaving the East Blue was not his priority, and had instead anchored his ship near the premier floating restaurant in this sea: The Baratie.

“Give back Wado Ichimonji!” Kuina shouted as she stormed into the building, not really used to walking with her new leg but getting by on pure stubbornness. It was an ugly thing at first glance, not round as one would expect from a fake leg but more of an oval that was oriented with the long side oriented to match a person’s foot. Capping the end was a small claw, made for gripping surfaces with greater surface area than an ordinary pegleg. The attachment to the rest of her leg was the real miracle, a set of leather straps bound it to her knee more than the actual stump, and she was already beating the odds for it having stayed affixed when she moved around with it. 

Naturally, the odds of it slipping loose in this battle was about the same chance of a Marine’s ‘Justice’ coat falling from their shoulders: essentially zero. 

Zoro walked inside after her steadily, his freshly laundered headband already around his head to keep sweat and blood out of his eyes. He meant business. 

Captain Downer was occupying one of the party tables in the corner, several crew members with him as they enjoyed a feast. The sword in question was literally on the table, a centerpiece for their celebration. 

Tanya didn’t really want to move from her position on top of the Argent’s front turret, so she just ordered the humandrills to keep the cannons trained on Downer’s ship and stayed back and thanked her lucky stars that Downer was visible from her position as long as the doors stayed open. Her Observation only did so much to allow her to perceive what was going on through walls. Idly, she moved Saifu to her lap and started petting the dog, who wriggled in pleasure at the affection. 

“Hey!” Shouted the proprietor, a retired pirate by the name of ‘Red Leg’ Zeff. He had his own peg leg, but moved with it much more smoothly than Kuina, a sign of long practice. “Don’t you go harassing my customers!”

“He stole my sword!” Kuina shouted, “My grandfather forged that blade! It’s his second-finest work!”

Zeff scoffed. “He’s still a paying customer, and no one harasses my customers until they’re done eating and out of the restaurant. Now get out!” With a sneer, he added: “Besides, you can barely stand on that thing. Even if you weren’t a woman, letting you get into a fight would be like kicking you down myself.”

“Hey!” Shouted the sous chef Sanji, the boy that, now that Tanya looked at him again, shared more of a resemblance with the Vinsmoke siblings than just his eyebrows. Ichi, Ni, San, Yon… “Don’t you be insulting a lady like that, shitty old man! She wears that pegleg better than you do!” He turned to Kuina. “Now, would the lady like something to eat while you wait for the shitty pirate to finish his meal?”

Kuina blushed at the sudden charm offensive. “W-well, it has been a long trip…”

Zoro cut in. “We’re not here to eat, curly brow.” He said acidly. He pointed straight at Captain Downer. “We’ve got cannons pointed at your ship. If you want to keep that barnacle bait, come outside and settle this.”

Sanji scowled at Zoro. “Who’re you to talk for the lady, shithead?” He asked challengingly, shifting his weight to one leg, the other ready to lash out. 

“Zoro, we’re not here to fight the chefs.” Kuina said, still blushing. “You’re right, we can hold his ship hostage.” 

Tanya sighed. Why did Kuina have to be so sensible? Zoro had the right idea. 

Captain Downer chuckled at the exchange, and plucked Wado Ichimonji from his table before kicking it over, letting the remains of the mostly-finished meal spill to the floor. “You want round two, bitch?” He asked rhetorically. Sanji froze at the man’s actions and words, his own anger rising to match Zoro’s. 

Chef Zeff took one look at his sous chef and immediately shouted to his subordinates: “Deploy the fins!” In seconds, the infamous party deck of the Baratie was deployed, providing large amounts of extra room that were used to provide entertainment for the patrons whenever a pirate crew got foolish enough to think that chefs were easy prey. In a pinch, they could also be used to fit extra customers if a particularly large party came by and they wanted full service. 

“I believe we shall be taking this outside.” Sanji said through gritted teeth. The cherry of his cigarette glowed brightly as he seethed.  

“I was thinking the same thing.” Captain Downer said eagerly. With a stomp, he finally demonstrated the devil fruit that Kuina spoke of, as the entrance to the restaurant unfolded into a set of stairs that now led to the party deck. “Step-step exit!” He shouted, and the floor beneath the three teenagers turned into more stairs which turned into a downward escalator, flinging all three onto the deck with multiple bruises from the fall down the stairs. Him and his five officers took one step onto the stairs and glided down to the deck themselves, comfortable with the motion. The moment they touched down, the entrance to the Baratie shifted back into its original configuration. “Ha! I didn’t bother introducing myself before, but I’ll do it now: I am Captain Downer D. Star of the Autumn pirates, and I ate the step-step fruit, becoming a stairs-man. ” He gave a mocking bow and then drew Wado Ichimonji. “Now die. Step-step maw!” 

The three teenagers scattered at his stomp to avoid the floor opening up beneath them, a sturdy folding ladder, like one might see leading to an attic, folded upwards to smash down on where they were, crushing that spot like the jaws of a wooden beast. 

Captain Downer’s subordinates separated to engage the three teenagers, while Downer settled into his backline command and support position, the ideal place for him. Tanya zipped open Saifu’s back and withdrew her rifle. Maybe a little fire support would be appropriate. Glancing up at Tanya’s selection, Saifu promptly turned her ears back into canvas. 

Sanji was fighting two of the crew members, one had assembled a three-section staff and was using bojutsu while the other one was a brute of a man whose heavily calloused hands and boxing stance said all you needed to know about his fighting style. 

Zoro was fighting two more of the crew, one of which had a broadsword and the other a cutlass with a brace of pistols strapped to him, one of them already in his offhand. 

Finally, Kuina was fighting the last one, a devious-looking character who wielded a chain with an iron weight at the end as his weapon. 

A few more crew members from the Autumn pirate’s ship started to move to enter the battlefield, but Tanya whistled. Tate and Yari leapt from her ship to the railing of theirs, savagely grinning as they brandished their swords but did not attack. The message was clear: stay back.

Now, it’s time to start the show.

-------------------------

[Shimotsuki Kuina]

“You couldn’t beat the Captain the first time, what makes you think you’ve got any better chance now?” Taunted the other pirate. “You’re down a sword and a leg, while we’ve got just as many men as before.”

“A samurai is never without a sword.” Kuina said instead, plucking her backup blade, Tsubame, that she had forged between arriving home and getting attacked by the Autumn pirates, off of her back. It wasn’t bad work, but it lacked that spark that she could only occasionally manage to infuse in the blade, even when following her grandfather’s methods to the letter. Not like her newest blade. Not like Chigiri Kakudo. That one was worthy of being a Graded blade, she was sure. “I am Shimotsuki Kuina, descendent of Ryuma the Dragonslayer. I will reclaim my grandfather’s sword, over your dead body if necessary.”

“Well, I suppose if we’re being polite here, my name is Rip. It fits me well, and it’s what I’m going to do to your other leg once we’re done here.” Rip said, licking his lips. “We’ll take good care of you after that.” Kuina scowled at his implication. 

The fight started simply, with the chain-wielding Rip sending out probing strikes, attempting to disarm her or trip her up. It was simple enough to mostly use her good leg to hop away from them, dodging the blows by the slimmest of margins. When he got impatient and used a heavier strike, Kuina dodged around it and advanced to attack, drawing Tsubame and striking him in one smooth motion. Pivoting on her new leg, she went for a followup strike at his back as he reeled from the first one. 

Unfortunately, the floor shifted downwards, a familiar trick as a set of stairs down into the water opened up. She was expecting something like that, so she sheathed Tsubame and used the sword as a cane to shove herself onto a clear area. 

A powerful gunshot rang out, and Captain Downer shouted in surprise and a little pain. With a glance, she could see that he had a chunk taken out of his ear. “That was a warning shot.” Tanya said calmly, her words reverberating better than if she had shouted at the top of her lungs. “If you lend support, so will I.”

Kuina thought it was a little strange why Tanya seemed to have so many nice guns. Kuina knows that she could have done that exact same thing with a sword, and it would be even scarier if she did. Flying slashes were legendary feats in the East Blue. 

Not important. With new confidence now that her back was covered, Kuina sneered at Rip, who was beginning to sweat. “Not so confident now that you have to fight me one on one, are you?” She taunted. 

“Shut up, bitch!” He shouted, unspooling the chain wrapped around his offhand. “Chaos chain rampage!” He shouted, roaring as he started to swing around his weapon wildly. Kuina wasn’t fooled by the apparent chaos, though. Each chain was still under his full control, and he was fully cognizant of his zone of control as he slowly advanced towards her. 

Hm. The only way around that… is through. Drawing Tsubame, she struck at one chain with the sheath, fouling up his offhand’s momentum. Next, she lashed out with her new leg, allowing the other chain to ensnare it. 

Just as planned. He whipped his chain upward, which Kuina went along with, kicking off the ground with her good leg. With a twist of her leg, Chigiri Kakudo’s sheath went loose, and both of her blades were free to do what they do best. “Two-sword style: Rhino Cycle!” She shouted in Wanogo as she spun, lining up her two sword’s strikes. Her stronger sword cut through the chains, her trust in her newest blade vindicated by the clean cut, while Tsubame entered the gap and cut the pirate’s chest open, cutting enough of his abdominal muscles that standing back up was exceptionally unwise. 

With a flourish, the blood flew cleanly off the well-oiled blades, and the sheaths were reclaimed, although it did take longer than Kuina would like to line up her leg with the sheath for Chigiri Kakudo. 

But losing her leg isn’t the end of her, she’s no damsel in distress. She can still fight. 

-------------------------

[Vinsmoke Sanji]

This day started out so well. He had an idea for a new soup to use up the last of five different ingredients that were soon to expire, and it had turned out to be delicious. Even Zeff liked it, declaring it ‘fit for the day’s lunch special’. That was great, because about half the time he experiments with food waste, Zeff instead insists that it be served only to the staff. 

It had been years since he screwed up badly enough for the man to throw it out. They were adamant to not waste food… but they still had some standards. A lot of the new meat thought those standards were far too low, but if it was edible enough to stay in your stomach, it was food. 

But then this shithead crew decided to come in. Captain Downer was exactly the kind of shithead to skip out on the bill, but he was waving around a genuine Great-grade sword, one of 21 in the world. So even if he decides not to pay, they’ll just beat him up and take it from him, then call the Marines to pick him up. The bounty would be worth a nice upgrade for the ship. Whatever his bounty is. 

But then the previous owner of that sword came calling. And now he’s fighting boxing shithead and stick shithead, unable to help the crippled lady reclaim her family’s sword. He knows what it looks like when someone has just recently lost their leg. She was new to that prosthetic, as well made as it was. 

Still, fighting two shitheads wasn’t that difficult, even if they were… stronger than the average shithead he beats up. “Collier!” He shouted as he kicked the neck of the boxing shithead, throwing off his aim of his haymaker. “Épaule, Côtelette, Poitrine!” He continued, tenderizing the muscles his opponent needed to put power into his punches. 

“Measuring Jab!” Shouted the stick shithead, thrusting his staff to throw off Sanji’s balance. Sanji swayed to avoid it, but the stick shithead followed up with “Assessing Sweep!” towards his single point of contact with the ground. 

Sanji’s fingers were strong enough to launch him clear of the attack, when a crack of a rifle shot rang out, seizing everyone’s attention. Ah, there’s a fourth person on their team. Interesting rifle, much more advanced than he ever saw in the East Blue. It didn’t look like any he had seen in the North Blue, either, but it had been nearly ten years… 

He didn’t have the time to think further on the mysteriously advanced rifle and its potential link to Germa, as he was still fighting. “Quasi, Queue, Cuisseau, Jarret!” He shouted as he worked on the leg and hips of the stick shithead, spinning around and between his opponents to throw them off guard. 

“You bastard!” Shouted the boxing shithead. “Hold still!”

“Too slow!” Sanji shouted back. 

“Don’t let him get to you, Ippo!” Shouted the stick shithead. So that’s boxing shithead’s name. “You almost got me in the head with that one!”

“Then stay out of my fucking way, Sonwu!” Ippo shouted back, furious. “Gazelle Punch!”

Sanji avoided his hook-like uppercut and repeated his tenderizer combo on the man’s neck and chest muscles. Unfortunately, this led to the staff shithead knocking him down with a well-aimed staff shot. 

No matter. Sanji kipped back up and… landed straight in the water that the stairs shithead opened up. A second rifle shot echoed out, and the deck sprang back up to its normal shape, leaving Sanji a little wet but otherwise fine. With a glance, he saw a hole bored through a set of stairs that had shielded the captain, and as it descended back into the deck Sanji saw both of the man’s ears bleeding from a bullet whistling right through the skin. 

“Careful, you’re out of ears.” The riflewoman looked younger than him, maybe by two years? But she sounded mature and in command, so she was probably older than she looked. She made those men’s clothes look very good, as she lazily sat on a turret with a dog in her lap. It must be well-trained, to still be so relaxed in the presence of gunshots. He hoped she was here to eat. “The next shot won’t be a warning. Wait your turn.” The massive monkeys that were operating her ship hooted and howled to add additional menace to her statement. The two that had boarded the Autumn Pirate’s ship had already taken out the rest of Captain shithead’s crew, but they weren’t officers, so Sanji could have done the same with no problems at all. 

Ah, his opponents were distracted by the beautiful lady as well. Those shitheads don’t deserve to behold her beauty! He lunged forward to the boxing shithead and unleashed his finishing combo. “Mouton Shot!” He shouted as he repeated every torso kick he had given before thrice over, finishing it off by bracing himself against the deck and using all of his strength to kick the bastard right back onto his ship. 

From the terrified look on stick shithead’s face, he knows that he’s soon to follow his friend. 

-------------------------

[Roanoa Zoro]

It is said that swordsmen can know their opponents' full measure with a single exchange of blades. From this, Zoro could say… that his opponents were not terrible. 

To be honest, it was a little bit like looking in a mirror. Usually, he was the one who out muscled the more skilled swordsmen who thought swordsmanship an art instead of a way to fight. 

His opponents, who had introduced themselves as Swab and Deck, weren't incompetent with the sword, they knew how to align their edges correctly and were actually cutting instead of just chopping, but those were the only positive things he could say about them. 

But they also out massed him by ten or twenty kilos each and it wasn't just dead weight. Was this what was considered middle of the road on the Grand Line? 

He liked it. 

Still, despite their bulk, Zoro was pretty sure he could beat either one in a contest of strength without much trouble… but they worked together irritatingly well. 

There was a gunshot from Tanya’s ship, but she was probably just helping that shitty cook. He needed to keep an eye on Swab’s pistols. 

Cutlass and pistol was a pretty common fighting style among pirates. The sturdy piece of metal and wood functioned as a parrying dagger, and as long as it was loaded, it was a threat that couldn't be simply ignored. It meant that creating distance did not mean safety. 

A second gunshot from Tanya. Faintly, he registered that she was helping, making sure that the Captain didn't foul his stance like last time. 

Still, Swab leapt back and lined up his own gun, which was the opportunity that Zoro needed. His swords lined up, his feet put Deck between him and Swab’s firing position, and… “Onigiri!”

…He struck. Now on the other side of the falling Deck, Swab shot his pistol, but with just one bullet, he shifted his neck and deflected the metal ball off target, instead whizzing past his neck. 

Swab dropped his pistol to draw another one, but his body hit the floor before he could, his gums spilling out onto the wooden surface. 

Now for the main course. “Tanya! Kuina! Shitty cook!” He shouted. “Don't interfere! He's mine.” 

He had to win back Wado Ichimonji. Or die trying. 

-------------------------

[Dracule D. Tanya]

Tanya was genuinely unsure whether Zoro would win this. 

On one hand, if it was straight swordsmanship, it would probably be a fight but she felt safe betting on Zoro. By Grand Line standards, the Autumn pirates are really bottom of the barrel. 

But that devil fruit… as much fighting experience as she has, she's never had to go up against an experienced Paramecia before. Plenty of zoans and one or two logias, but not really anything tricky. 

The closest was… Moria’s subordinates, back when she was eight. But the clear-clear fruit and the hollow-hollow fruit weren't big on battlefield control like the step-step fruit was. Both fights were glorified games of hide-and-seek, really. It was the first time she was able to consciously use her Observation, though. 

But basic Observation wouldn’t be quite as useful here. Sure, if she was at her best, she could just stay in the air and cut straight through any barrier he presents… but as she was currently suffering in silence, she would just have to be safe on her ship, as she was fairly certain Captain Downer could only affect structures he touched. She’ll shoot him if he gets close. She’d probably end up damaging the Baratie if she tried to use a flying slash. 

Actually… “Back up, move ship further away.” She signed to the humandrills still on her ship. Tate and Yari were still occupying the Autumn pirate’s ship, keeping the crew suppressed. 

The anchor was pulled up and the very sturdy, very long oars were brought out, slowly increasing the distance between the Argent and the rest of the battle. 

Captain Downer was definitely in control of the battle, as he took Zoro’s words as the commands of a captain instead of a not-so-polite request from a junior, and started using his fruit to its fullest extent, flowing attacks and defenses with the ease of long practice. 

However, Zoro had his measure, and was moving with the shifting terrain, slicing off any questing jaws and keeping his balance even with the constantly shifting terrain. 

Eventually, Captain Downer closed into melee, lashing out with passable skill using Wado Ichimonji. Zoro had to brace himself to block the attack, and with that, his legs sank into the deck as the stairs clamped on his shins. 

“Zoro!” Kuina shouted, concerned. She had walked uneasily back to the main deck of the Baratie, and was seated next to the watching Zeff. From how she was clutching her knee, she was definitely hiding how much her stump ached from the exertion. She had the easiest fight, too… 

“Stay out of my fight!” Zoro shouted back. “I can still hold a sword!” He then continued to defend against Captain Downer’s attack combination without moving his legs, blocking and parrying Wado Ichimonji with increasing desperation. Splashes of Zoro’s blood started to accumulate around him, as he kept taking small cuts from his enemy. 

Then, Downer made a mistake. He backed up, got some distance… gave Zoro a spare moment to breathe. With two flashes of steel, his legs were free from the prison and he charged forward. “I know your secret!” Zoro shouted as he went on the offensive. “We kept trying to cut your stairs vertically! That just splits it into two staircases, but when you completely sever a step… the whole thing comes crashing down and turns back!”

“Pest!” Accused Captain Downer, defending with Wado Ichimonji and using his fruit to slow Zoro down. “Just die already!”

“Three Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!” Zoro called out, lining up his swords parallel to each other and slashing down simultaneously, his ferocity creating the illusion of a great tiger bringing its paw down on his enemy. 

“Impossible!” Captain Downer shouted as his grip on Wado Ichimonji slackened. “This is just… the East Blue…” He fell to the ground, defeated. 

Tch. Talk about a glass jaw. One good hit and he goes down? Pathetic.

Zoro walked up triumphantly and took Wado Ichimonji from his downed enemy. He lifted it up dramatically. “From this day forth, I swear on this blade: I will become the greatest swordsman in the world!”

She could imagine Father’s grin quite clearly, if he was to see this. The man loved this kind of high drama. 

-------------------------

“No.” Zoro said with finality. 

Tanya sighed. She expected this… “Can I ask why?”

“I might become stronger under you.” Zoro acknowledged. “But I will not serve under someone else, especially someone who just wants to play merchant.”

Yeah, that sounded about right. Honestly, Zoro and her father were just too similar. “Well, I must insist that you at least stay for a few days, so I can drop you off at an island after giving you some things to work on.”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” Zoro said easily, not being a complete idiot apparently. 

“Will you be joining me, Kuina?” Tanya asked, “Sailing with just the humandrills is quite a pain.” She’s going a little stir crazy.

Kuina nodded, focusing the majority of her attention on Wado Ichimonji as she sharpened it. “I don’t want to go back home for a while. If you’ll have me, I’ll be happy to sail the seas with you.” 

Excellent. Crew member acquired.