FOCUS
Summary: Zoro gives Tashigi a few lessons in swordsmanship. Oneshot.
"You're not listening to me."
But she was. She was listening very closely, she was leaning on every word, and when he reached to touch her arm, raise it high and point the sun-kissed sword to the sky, she found herself wanting more.
"If you lunge like this..." He guided her, moved her, and Tashigi leaned with him, his fist over her gloved hands, and he adjusted the sword. His free hand touched her side only briefly. "...You leave this open for attack."
She nodded seriously, both hands on the Shigure, and swallowed a little.
He broke into a grin and moved again. "But like this..." His hands were on her shoulder, "Tuck," He commanded, and she was obedient, dipping her shoulder down and raising her hands. "Use your wrists. You're blocking--you're blocking, not attacking. Keep your eyes forward and don't look down." She nodded, she nodded and did as she was told, "And imagine a weight...here." He reached past her, pressed on the smooth side of the blade with his finger tip, and Tashigi was alarmed at the strength such a simple action displayed. She leaned back against his chest, blinked twice in surprise, and felt his breath in her hair when he chuckled.
"Keep that weight where it is. Adjust your arms. If it goes away, drop your other shoulder and block an attack here." His hands, tanned and calloused with endless training, where over her stomach, and she knew he felt her tense against his touch.
"Here?"
"Here."
She looked up and found his eyes and realized with some horror that he was smiling like he knew. Like he knew this was going to happen. Like he knew since that morning that he would have his arms around her, that he would have his chin here, on the soft of her neck, that he would have his lips this close to her jaw line as she held her sword in front of her like a good girl.
She hated that smile sometimes, but as he closed his eyes and kissed her, she couldn't help but give in with her own secret smile.
After all, she was where she was hoping to be.