Swordsman's Treasure

by Hack Interrupted

This thing is a train wreck but it's a blast to write. Zoro finds himself a ninja gal! X'D

1. The Shadow Before

Part One: The Shadow Before

Ussop twisted the lens on his eye piece zooming in on the two ships ahead in their path. The bigger vessel, clearly a pirate ship was firing on the smaller one. "Luffy! Ship to ship fight ahead! Yo Luffy!"

Luffy ran to the bow with Zoro behind him. He tried focusing on the ships ahead. Already Luffy could see smoke. He pushed his hat further down on his head so it wouldn't blow off. "Can you see anything Ussop?"

The gunner was already looking. The smaller ship was returning fire and its deck was animated by the fighting aboard. "Pirates have boarded the small ship! It's a fight!"

"Big guy's picking on the little guy huh?" Zoro grumbled. Crap. Luffy is probably going to want to help them. Baka! Always sticking his nose into other people's problems.

"Sanji! Turn us full into the wind!" Luffy commanded. He was indeed turning them to aid the small vessel. "It looks like something is on fire over there."

"So what, it aint our problem!" Zoro's hand dropped to the hilt of his sword.

Luffy frowned at Zoro. "If their ship sinks they could die."

Zoro lifted his nose indignantly. "Not our problem!"

They were coming up on the ship fight fast. Luffy could smell the smoke and then he heard screaming and shouting. He wiggled his ears. "Sounds like…one of those people fighting… is a girl."

Zoro fixed his eyes on the ships they were closing in on. "What? Women and children?"

"Luffy!" Ussop screamed from the crows nest. "I see a woman and a little kid fighting!" he adjusted his goggles and saw the boy no more then ten or twelve take a sword to the gut. Shit the kid! "They're being slaughtered!"

Luffy circled his wrist and then his shoulder. We're just about close enough. "Not our business ne? Well sorry Zoro, I can't just stand here and do nothing while pirates attack women and children."

Zoro grit his teeth. "I didn't say it like that asshole!"

The Merry speed toward the fighting ships. Cannon fire grew louder as it churned the sea around the two ships. "Luffy!" Ussop gnashed his teeth watching a woman fight pirates back away from the bleeding boy. Ussop saw the boy close his eyes and lay still.

The others had come running toward the bow to see what all the commotion was about. Stray cannon fire fell short of the Merry. "Chopper, be ready to drop anchor and treat the injured," Luffy said drawing his right arm back behind him.

Sanji lit a cigarette. "Looks like some bad shit. Be careful Luffy."

"The pirates have over run the small ship!" Ussop informed hurrying down from above.

"Gum gum no rocket!" Luffy aimed for the aft mast on the smaller ship. As soon as he had a hand around it he let himself fly. His feet left the deck of the Merry and Luffy flew toward the smaller ship trying to see what was happening on deck. The pirate ship fired off another round of cannon balls. One went wild and made a bee line for Luffy. He noticed it too late "Shiiiiiit!" and inflated himself to repel the cannon ball. His hand slipped off the mast and Luffy fell into the sea. "Shiiiiiiiiit!"

"Luffy!" Sanji was already kicking off his shoes. Beside him Zoro was ripping his swords off.

"Hurry!" Nami screamed watching Luffy go under. "He's going to drown!"

Kisa had been too late to save Brodey, the boy was dead. There was another round of cannon fire, the ship shook violently and then Kisa heard someone above her screaming shiiiit! She cast a quick glance over her shoulder and saw a guy in a straw hat fall into the sea. He struggled for a minute to keep his head up and then sank. Behind him two others were jumping off their ship into the sea after their friend.

There was no time to think, instinct took over. That guy is a hammer. Kisa tucked her sai into their sheaths, leapt off the boat and landed on the surface of the water. She ran toward the guy that had fallen in as two of his crewmates swam toward him screaming. No time they won't reach him in time. Kisa dove under looking for the guy in the straw hat.

Zoro and Sanji swam hard to get to Luffy. This was no time to stop and marvel over the woman's trick of walking on the water. That's not a devils fruit power or she never would have gone into the water. Could it really be that martial art? Zoro was cautious. They reached the woman as she brought Luffy to the surface gasping for air. Zoro saw Sanji moving to take their gagging captain when the two ships that had been fighting suddenly exploded in a huge ball of fire.

Kisa's mouth fell open but she had no time to scream before debris of the two exploded ships start to fall. She shoved the guy she had saved at his blond friend. "Here take him!" Kisa let go and swam as fast as she could toward what was left of the burning sinking ships. "Kyo! Tamahome sensei! Mina!"

"Oi Zoro, move your ass," Sanji barked. "Don't let her get near those sinking ships. She'll get sucked under and drown!"

Luffy coughed, "Help her."

Zoro did. He swam as hard as he could to catch up but she disappeared below the surface before he could reach her. "Don't go under on me damnit!" Great how am I supposed to find her now? He didn't have time to think about it; right now Luffy was counting on him. He took a deep breath and dove under. It was as Sanji had suspected, the woman was being dragged under with a sizeable chunk of ship. He made it to her just as she let go of one of her dead nakama. Zoro reached for her and took her arm. She cooperated with him and their combined strength was enough to make it back to the surface. Zoro popped his head above water and sucked in a deep breath.

"He got her," Sanji said to water logged Luffy. He started to back stroke them back to the Going Merry Go. "Oi Zoro! Let's go!"

Zoro turned to the woman he had just saved. She was watching the remains of the two ships sink with horrified eyes. There were no other survivors save her. "Hey," he wasn't sure what to say to her. She cut her eyes over to him and Zoro saw the devastation there. Her nakama… Zoro nodded toward the merry go. "Come on." He started to swim that way. A moment later she was behind him, but not swimming. The woman was once again walking on the surface of the water. As he got closer to the ship he could hear Ussop and Chopper freaking out about it Suge! Suge! Zoro kept his opinion to himself. He had heard rumors of a martial art that disciplined such trickery.

Sanji hauled Luffy aboard first and the woman came up the ladder behind him. Sanji helped her to the deck of the ship. "Are you alright miss?" he eyed the lovely young lady that could walk on water.

Zoro leapt to the deck behind her. "Luffy!" he scolded at once.

Luffy sat at Ussop's feet with his tongue hanging out. "I hate salt water. Sanji? Oi Sanji make me a drink!"

Sanji frowned at Luffy. "Make it yourself asshole. Can't you see I'm trying to comfort a lady here?"

Zoro frowned at Sanji. He put an arm around the woman and pulled her a step back from Sanji. "Don't start your shit love cook."

Sanji cut his cold eyes up to Zoro. "Just what do you think you're doing man handling a lady like that you cheap shitty bastard?"

Nami stepped out from behind Ussop. "Shut up!" she yelled startling everyone into silence. Now that she had their attention Nami stepped over to the woman that had saved Luffy. She frowned up at Zoro, "What you wanna marry her?" Nami slapped Zoro's arm off of the woman's shoulder and turned to the dismayed looking stranger. "Our condolences on your crew and our thanks for saving Luffy. I'm Nami, this is Zoro, Sanji, Ussop, Luffy is the guy you saved, Chopper and up there is Robin." Nami tried to smile. "And you are?"

Everyone was watching and listening. "I'm Kisa."

"Are you hurt Kisa?" Sanji asked immediately taken with the lovely young woman. She had the palest blue eyes Sanji had ever seen. They're like ice…

Kisa shook her head and cut her eyes over to the wreckage sinking below the surface. Everyone… they're all dead… "I… am okay."

Zoro stared down at the woman. "You sure? Chopper is a doctor."

Nami stepped forward and put her hand on Kisa's shoulder. She felt terrible for her. "Why don't you come with me Kisa? I can at least give you something dry to put on."

Kisa rolled her eyes back to Nami. There was compassion in her eyes. "Yeah, thanks."

Nami led Kisa away from the others to get her into something dry. "Drink Sanji," Luffy whined again from the deck.

Sanji rung out his tie. "Yeah I think we could all use a drink. Poor Ka swan most of all."

"Ka swan?" Zoro grunted at Sanji.

Sanji loosened his soggy tie. "That's right. Did you not see what a beautiful woman that we have plucked from the sea?"

"She walked on water!" Chopper was still in the throes of amazement.

"Sugee!" Ussop agreed.

"Maybe she's a witch," Zoro teased the cowards.

Chopper blinked. "A witch? Ahhh!"

Zoro chuckled satisfied while Chopper and Ussop ran circles on the deck. "Not funny marimo," Sanji scolded.

Luffy finally stood up. "Oi Sanji…drink…"

Sanji rolled his eyes annoyed. "Just let me get into something dry."

Once dry attire had been put into play Sanji went back to the galley to fix the crew some drinks. It was still a little early for cocktails, but it was hardly an issue considering what the day had been like. Sanji felt bad for the pretty lady with the icy blue eyes. Poor Ka swan. I wonder if she has someplace to go now that her ship is gone.

Luffy wandered into the galley with Zoro behind him. "Drink Sanji," he begged.

"I'm getting it asshole!" Sanji huffed. He pulled out a beer mug and drew Luffy a beer.

"Me too Sanji," Zoro said seating himself at the table.

Sanji finished pouring Luffy's beer and grabbed another mug. "I didn't take this job to be catering to you bastards."

Zoro rolled his eyes. "Whatever love cook. Just Gimmie a beer."

Sanji carried their beers to the table and set them down. Luffy grabbed his and started chugging. "Oi oi take it easy Luffy. You'll be drunk before dinner time."

The door to the galley opened and Nami stepped in. Kisa was behind her in one on Nami's t-shirts and shorts. Zoro lifted his mug and looked at the women as they came in and over to the table. He thought something looked weird about Nami's shirt on Kisa. It took him a minute to realize that her boobs were bigger then Nami's and they stretched the shirt more. "Yo," Zoro sipped his beer.

"Can I get you ladies a refreshing drink?" Sanji bowed a little.

Nami and Kisa sat at the table. "Sure Sanji," Nami answered. "And spike it please. I think Kisa could use a drink." She smiled at her new friend. Nami had talked to her a little in her room.

"Right away," Sanji turned and set to the task.

Luffy took another swig of beer and looked at Kisa. "Oi Kisa, thank you for saving me."

Kisa looked over at Luffy. "A hammer like you should be more careful out at sea."

Zoro eyed Kisa suspiciously. "How did you know Luffy's a hammer ne?"

Across the table the swordsman was giving Kisa the hard eyeball. What is he stupid? "Luffy ate the gum gum fruit didn't he?"

"How did you know that?"

She frowned at the swordsman. Clearly the guy didn't trust her. "I saw him stretch and inflate. I knew his abilities were of the paramecia fruit."

Zoro eyed her over his mug of beer. "You're pretty smart eh?"

Luffy ignored Zoro for the moment. "Oi you're pretty smart Kisa." Luffy chuckled. "And you can walk on water too. Sugee!"

She was glad for Luffy's pleasant distraction. "It's nothing really."

"Are you a witch? Zoro says you're a witch" Luffy tried to look scary.

"Aho!" Zoro shoved Luffy hard. "Don't tell her that! She'll curse me!"

Robin's voice floated through the door. "I don't think Kisa chan is a witch," Robin stepped in and assessed the situation. "But that sure was some trick."

"It's chakra," Kisa offered. She peeked at Zoro. "It's a shinobi art not witchcraft."

"Shinobi!" Zoro and Robin said together.

Kisa's right hand instinctively dropped to the hilt of her sai. "What of it?"

She's not a witch she's a… "N-no way! There aren't any real ninja are there?" Zoro gasped staring at the woman with the cold scary eyes.

"The Shinobi are one of the oldest civilizations of people on the Grand Line," Robin stepped forward. "Are you really from…"

Kisa nodded relaxing a little. "Hai, I am a shinobi from Home. Hyuuga Kisa." She bowed her head to Robin. The woman seemed intelligent and curious, but not dangerous.

Luffy sipped his beer. "You're a ninja Kisa? Sugee!"

"Yamero Luffy," Zoro barked. He stared Kisa down. "She could be dangerous."

Sanji turned and set drinks in front of Nami and Kisa. "Shut up asshole. Ka swan was just about to tell us about herself and I for one am very interested. Drink Robin?"

Robin moved to sit with Nami and Kisa. "Thank you Sanji."

"Shut up Zoro and let Kisa talk," Nami picked up her drink and sipped.

"Yes Ka chan," Robin settled in her seat. "Won't you tell us about the shinobi?"

Everyone was listening so Kisa did. She told them the shinobi nation was broken up into five kingdoms on a great island known as Home. Each kingdom maintained a village of warriors, shinobi that they could call on in times of trouble. For many hundreds of years the shinobi worked together to repel any that would come to Home to plunder. Treasure and history were both abundant on Home. In time the kingdoms came to have disagreements, quarrels and then civil war. Civil war raged for years; kingdoms constantly switched sides throwing the balance of power into turmoil. The civil war era ended when Home was once again rediscovered by the outside world. Two decades of shaky alliances later, Home was on the verge of collapse. A fleet of fifteen Kushan ships arrived at Home and began an all out assault.

The shinobi were a people of long protected heritage and so they tried to do just that. While the greedy and corrupt fell to the Kushan armies the shinobi escaped on the 15 Kushan ships in the bay. All five of the villages were represented on the shanghaied ships and they set out into the Grand Line leaving Home to its fate. It was decided before the ships sailed off in different directions to hide their precocious passengers from the rest of the world that in ten years time; when all of the shinobi sailing the grand line were of age the shinobi would return Home and reclaim it.

Kisa had been just ten years old when they sailed away from Home. Over the years the shinobi broke into smaller groups aboard numerous vessels. For the past four years Kisa had been sailing with Tamahome sensei and the rest of her team, Kyo, Brodey, Yahiko and Heero. "Yahiko Heero and Brodey were all suffering from grand line fever when we were attacked. They were… too sick to fight. Tamahome sensei…" Kisa picked up her glass and took a big drink of what Sanji had made her. Thankfully it had just the right kick.

"I'm sorry about your nakama Ka swan," Sanji said and meant it.

"So you were heading home?" Luffy asked. Ninja lady! Sugee!

"Well…kind of."

"Kind of?" Nami sipped her drink too. "Were you lost?"

Kisa took a deep breath. "The thing is, when we left Home out of the fifteen ships only five carried an eternal pose. I haven't seen one on years."

"You can't navigate the grand line without a log pose!" Nami was shocked.

Robin felt her hopes sink. "You've lost the way back to Home?"

"The shinobi can read the stars. The sea and the weather may change in the grand line, but Orion and Isis are constant."

"Orion…" Robin marveled. "The ancient mariner's sea god."

Kisa nodded a little. "Those with an eternal pose marked the way back Home."

"Marked?" Luffy asked.

"On the islands they visited the shinobi left a mark for other shinobi to follow."

Zoro had heard plenty of scary stories about ninja when he was a kid. Mostly they involved the trickster sneaking up behind you and killing you quick. They really can walk on anything ne? This chick is pretty scary. We should hurry up and get her off of…

"We'll help you find a mark Kisa," Luffy offered immediately.

"Luffy! What the hell are you doing? You want her to sneak up behind you and kill you?" Zoro kicked Luffy in the shin.

"Shut up Zoro you dweeb!" Nami snapped at him.

Zoro glared at Nami. "Ninja are assassins!"

"So was I once," Robin reminded. She looked at Kisa. "Like Luffy, I also ate a devils fruit as a child." She popped some arms out of the table for show. "Chopper is a reindeer that ate the huma huma fruit. Zoro is a wanted criminal. The marines have a bounty on his head, and mine."

"And mine," Luffy giggled. "We're the Straw Hat Pirates!"

Kisa looked around at the strange group and downed another swallow of her drink. I've been rescued by pirates…. Weird pirates!

"We're going to sail to the end of the grand line and find one piece," Luffy bubbled excited. "You can come with us and we'll help you find Home."

"I…uh…" Kisa didn't know what to say.

Luffy smiled a little. "Oi, what other choice do you have Kisa ne? Your ship and your nakama have been taken by the sea."

"Luffy!" Nami hissed. "You insensitive jackass!"

Robin smiled sadly. "Luffy is right. Ka chan is alone now. She doesn't even know where to find any of her people. Perhaps if she sails with us she can find shinobi or even Home." Home… I just know that there is a polyglyph on that island!

Sanji didn't care for Luffy's tactless approach, but he could dig the concept. "I'm sorry you lost your nakama Ka swan, but you should listen to Luffy. We could help."

Nami tried to relax. "Yes and even though our nakama may appear stupid they're all quite strong and brave."

Sail with these people? I don't even know them. "Why would you…want me with you?"

"A nakama that can walk on water!" Luffy nearly burst. "Cool ninja lady you just got to join us!" Everyone but Zoro and Kisa laughed. She turned red and slouched in her seat and Zoro kept an eye on her.

"Thank you Luffy. I'll think about it," Kisa finally managed.

"Sugee sugee!" Luffy finished his drink. "Sanji, another beer!"

As the days passed aboard the Going Merry Go the crew got to know the ninja they had saved from the sea and she came to know them too. Kisa found the Straw Hat pirates most likeable. She and Robin could sit and talk history for hours, Ussop was always working on some new neat invention, and Sanji was doting. Nami was enjoying having a tough girl aboard and set straight to showing Kisa the right way to nail the guys in the head when they acted stupid. She used Luffy as her example thumping him repeatedly before Kisa finally made her stop. "I got it Nami I got it!" Chopper was always full of questions and Luffy made Kisa laugh. The only one that didn't really warm up to her was the swordsman that practiced santoryu.

Kisa had been aboard the Merry for over a week. She was in desperate need of a workout, but no one seemed to want to spar with her. Sanji said he could never bring himself to attack a woman and Kisa was afraid to cut Luffy with her sai. The only one that left to train with was Zoro. At least with him she could practice with weapons. She didn't think he would have much of a problem sparring with her.

She gave it a little thought and then decided to hell with it. Zoro will just have to do. Kisa walked over to the swordsman sleeping on deck. "You Zoro, get up lets train." He mumbled incoherently and Kisa frowned. "Yo Zoro!" she kicked him in the side.

Zoro awoke to a kick in the ribs. "Oww!" he blinked up at Kisa. "What did you kick me for huh?"

"Get up, let's train."

"Huh?" Zoro's hand instinctively reached for his swords. "Train? I was sleeping!"

"Aho! You're always sleeping! You're the laziest fighter I've ever met," Kisa lifted a brow. "If you can really fight at all that is."

You wanna fight me bitch? "Lazy huh? Maybe I just don't need to train as hard as you," Zoro defended getting to his feet. He frowned down at the shinobi woman watching him with dangerous eyes. He grinned wickedly at her. "You want to fight Kisa?"

Well doesn't he look smug? Kisa laughed confident she could kick Zoro's ass any day of the week. He was strong, but she was stronger. "Aho, you can't win against me. I just wanted some training with weapons is all." She reached down and unsheathed her sai. Kisa tapped the blades together. "A little practice ne?"

Zoro readjusted the swords at his waist. "I think you mean it's you that can't beat me. I'm stronger then you."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am. I'm a guy."

She shook her head. "Sex doesn't matter."

Zoro blinked at her. What was that about sex? "Sex what?"

"It doesn't matter," she repeated.

Zoro shrugged. "Yeah but it's nice."

What…is this idiot thinking? "I mean it doesn't matter that I'm female. You can't beat me Zoro."

"Are you betting sex that I can't beat you?" Today must be my lucky day!

Kisa's eyebrow twitched annoyed. How dumb is he? "No Zoro, I wasn't betting anything."

Zoro chuckled and pointed to himself with his thumb. "Cuz you know I'll beat you and then you'd have to put out."

That was enough of his idiocy. Kisa's fist swung through the air and hit Zoro on top of the head just as Nami had showed her. "Urasaina!"

His hands flew up to his aching dome. That punch hurt! "That hurt you bitch!"

Kisa narrowed her eyes at him. "Weakling. I put less then fifty percent of my strength in that punch. Maybe training with you is futile." It was a white lie; she had hit him with about half of her force sure that he could take it.

Zoro grit his teeth at Kisa. Fifty percent huh? Is that close to half? Zoro wasn't great at math but he could guess that Kisa was pretty strong. "You've got two sai I've got two swords. Since you're not weak I wont have to go easy on you just cuz you're a woman." He drew a sword for each hand.

"And I won't go easy on you just because you're stupid."

"Keh! You sure a mean bitch aren't you Kisa? I'm going to enjoy defeating you."

Kisa smiled and laughed. "Try it Zoro."

He did. For the next hour and a half Zoro tried to get the one up on Kisa and couldn't do it. She was too fast and it drained a lot of his strength deflecting her sai. Mid battle Zoro realized that Kisa hadn't been kidding about her strength either. She was incredibly strong. Zoro had never heard of a woman that possessed such strength. She was fast, strong and nimble as a cat on crack; able to leap over Zoro's head in a single bound. She matched him blow for blow until Zoro was ready to fall over from exhaustion.

Zoro tried to catch his breath and sheathed his swords. "That's it I quit."

Kisa was winded too. It had been an excellent sparring match. Zoro adjusted to her weapons pretty quickly. "Giving up on defeating me already?" she jabbed tucking her sai away.

"No, I just need a drink." He smiled a little and started toward the galley. "We can continue this fight later right Kisa? Maybe… in the afternoons?"

A training schedule was something Kisa could relate to. Finally something familiar. Kisa stepped up behind Zoro. She was thirsty too. "I guess we could do that."

"I must need practice if I can't even beat a woman," Zoro scoffed.

Kisa glared at him. "Aho, I'm stronger then you."

Zoro looked down at Kisa as they moved amidships. "I will admit it I didn't know there were women as strong as you are Kisa."

She laughed. "Our strength is very different Zoro. You rely on those big muscles of yours and I concentrate chakra."

Zoro lifted an eyebrow. Oh? What's this? "You think I have big muscles ne? Are you flirting with Zoro sensei-?"

Kisa didn't let Zoro finish. She thumped him on the head again and stepped past him into the galley. "Oi Sanji kun?"

Zoro grabbed his head. Damnit I almost bit my tongue off! "Kisa!"

"Ka swan Can I get you a cool beverage?" Sanji offered.

Bitch! Mean bitch! Zoro stomped into the galley behind Kisa. "Sanji! Beer! Now!"

Sanji was already making Kisa's drink for her. "Since when do I gotta respond to your monosyllabic grunts? I'm fixing a drink for Ka swan. She needs a drink that will re hydrate her so that her supple skin will not dry out. If you want a beer asshole, pour it yourself."

Zoro frowned at Kisa. She was smiling at Sanji. Keh! Now I even gotta get my own beer! Damn love cook. Zoro got up and got his own damn beer. He sat back down at the table giving Kisa the hard eyeball. "So you wanna train in the afternoons?"

Kisa nodded. "Yes Zoro. I think you need some practice. I don't want to beat you that badly when we finally set foot on dry land," she mocked sweetly.

He downed a generous swallow of his beer. "Then I guess when we don't have to take it easy on the Merry we can have ourselves a real throw down huh?"

Sanji laughed and set Kisa's drink down in front of her. "You wont hurt him too bad will you Ka swan"

"Of course not Sanji," Kisa smiled up at the cook. She sipped her drink and laughed a little. Zoro was an idiot, but at least now she had found a way that she could relate to him too; the art of war. Maybe I'll be okay here on the Merry after all.

They pulled into a cove of an uninhabited island nearly a week later late in the afternoon. While waiting for the log pose to set Luffy, Chopper and Ussop did a little exploring near the coast. The women decided they wanted some time away from all of the testosterone. Robin packed them a picnic basket filled mostly with wine bottles and the ladies went ashore for a break.

Zoro had stayed aboard so that he would be first in line for grub when Sanji was done cooking. It was getting close to meal time when Zoro found Sanji at the bow of the Merry and headed his way. From the bow of the ship Zoro could see Kisa sitting with Robin and Nami on the beach. "Oi, what are they doing?"

Sanji sighed watching the women. "A little girl time, I'm afraid we weren't invited."

"Of course not we're men." Zoro adjusted his swords. "Manly men, pirates, plunderers of the sea! We don't need to go to some stupid woman's tea party!"

Sanji leaned over the rail watching from a distance. "They took all the good wine. I bet they'll come back drunk." He smiled and hit his cigarette. He was watching when Kisa got up and started toward the water. "Oh? Going to go swimming Ka swan? Got your bathing suit on…or not? Take it off Ka swan"

Zoro smacked Sanji in the back of the head. "Don't look at them if they're gonna get naked aho! Nami will charge us money!"

Sanji bit down on his cigarette. "Marimo," he growled threateningly.

Zoro cut his eyes back over to the women on the beach. Lucky for his wallet nobody was undressing, but maybe Zoro was just a little disappointed too. Instead Kisa had walked out onto the water. Nami and Robin were watching her, now so were he and Sanji. "What's she doing now?"

"Ka swan can walk on water…It's just amazing," Sanji marveled.

"Keh! It's a ninja trick. I've heard they can make their hands and feet stick to anything."

Sanji just smiled as the devious thoughts ran through his head. He watched Kisa out on the water. In the sunset it seemed as if the sea around her feet shimmered No it glowed. Kisa turned a circle using her toe to kick up the water around her. The droplets flew up into the air and Kisa took a stance. A second later her hands were moving so fast Sanji couldn't even see them anymore. "Nani!"

Zoro's jaw hung slack. She's… she's hitting the water she kicked up as its falling…What incredible speed! She stilled her arms bringing them together in front of her. Kisa moved her hands weird and then there was an explosion of smoke around her, like she set off a smoke bomb. The wind drew the smoke away and Zoro saw five Kisa's standing on the surface of the sea. "Nani! There's more of her?"

Five! There's five of them! "Sugee Ka swan Sugee!" Sanji cheered hanging over the rail and waving. "Can you make a couple more of you for me?"

Zoro blinked and saw the other Kisa's return to what they were made out of, sea water. So it really aint a devils fruit that makes her like this. It must be some of that ninja trickery, witchcraft or voodoo or something! "It's a trick."

Sanji laughed and blew kisses to the ladies. "It's a great trick! Can you imagine a Ka swan for each arm? Ménage-Ka-swan!"

He wasn't quite sure what the love cook was saying, but he grasped the concept. "Shut up you slob. I don't wanna hear yer sick little fantasies." He frowned at Kisa. She was almost back to Nami and Robin. Robin passed Kisa her glass of wine.

"Yo Zoro, how are you going to beat Ka swan when she can do shit like that?"

Zoro grit his teeth. "I'll figure out the trick to her witchery."

"You going to ask her to show you how to do it?"

"No," he snapped. "I can figure it out on my own. I don't need Kisa to show me anything."

"Pride goeth before the fall Zoro," Sanji puffed his cigarette and pitched it overboard.

"Pride my ass. I train with Kisa everyday. I know all her moves."

Sanji rolled his eyes over to Zoro briefly. "You mean you think you do."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It mean's the two of you have always fought in a small space taking it easy because of the Merry. What are you going to do if Kisa decides to fight from a distance? Ninja throw things at people you know, sharp things. They are masters of camouflage, outstanding at not being seen. Who knows what other powers Kisa will have at her disposal on dry land. And Ka swan is fast Zoro, way faster then you."

Unfortunately for Zoro that was true. Kisa's hands had been a blur. "I'll have to try and get her into a close combat fight. I'll have to overpower her with my strength."

"What about her strength? She's been holding out on you Zoro. She hasn't shown you her full strength yet."

"So what? She hasn't felt my full strength yet either. You think I'd actually be overpowered by a woman!" ridiculous! I can beat Kisa easy!

"Oi oi don't ask me to inflate your ego. I'm warning you Zoro, when you fight her you'll lose. Ka swan will out wit you. It's what ninja do. Just be glad it isn't a death match."

Zoro glared at Sanji. "I'll beat her."

Sanji rolled his eyes. "We'll see."

Lucky for Zoro the log pose set overnight and they headed back out to sea. Their fight on dry land was temporarily postponed but Zoro and Kisa kept up with their training. The next island had a fun port and for the time being training was forgotten about. The women had a great time in town and when the Merry sailed away from Port Owasco, Kisa was still aboard. Back out at sea Ussop took care of affixing Kisa's bunk bed over Nami's in the girls' room. The ninja had become a Straw Hat pirate after spending three weeks with her new friends.

They stocked up on supplies at port which was good because the next island didn't have one. There was a small fishing village, but not much else. Luffy was disappointed in the lack of restaurants. Kisa hadn't forgotten about sparring with Zoro on dry land. He had been getting cocky lately in their matches. It was time to show him who was boss. "Yo Zoro, you still wanna spar?" Kisa asked grinning as they disembarked.

So it's a fight you want ne? Zoro grinned wickedly. He would beat Kisa once and for all now that he didn't have to worry about the Merry. He looked down to a deserted strip of beach. "How bout over there?"

Kisa looked where Zoro was looking. "Sure, when?"

"Why don't we get it on now?"

Kisa looked at Zoro wondering if he realized what a lecher he sounded like half the time. No he doesn't, he's just smug and dumb. "Don't you want to see the village?"

"Screw the crappy village. I can tell it's crappy from here. I bet they don't even have a decent bar and if they have a bar the whisky is probably the cheap watered down shit."

Kisa frowned at his babbling. Jerk. "Hey Zoro," Kisa lifted a hand using her thumb to hold back her index finger.

Zoro looked at Kisa. It looked like she was going to thwack him in the forehead and he laughed. "What are you going to do with that ne?"

Kisa released her finger and it hit Zoro in the head. "This." She had concentrated a great deal of chakra into her finger and the force of the little tap sent Zoro flying down the beach as he screamed startled.

"Good for you Ka chan," Robin chortled. Luffy and Nami burst into hysterics as Zoro got to his feet down the beach. Sanji Ussop and Chopper stared with their mouths agape.

Zoro got to his feet rubbing his forehead. What the fuck was that? She just hit me with one little finger! Zoro's hand dropped to his sword as Kisa started down the beach after him. Is that her strength? Her true strength! That's…insane! She's a monster!

Kisa headed to Zoro on the beach. "You still wanna fight me?"

Zoro grit his teeth. "What the hell are you woman ne? What kind of trick was that?" Kisa kept coming and Zoro started to sweat. "It's a trick. No woman can have such monstrous strength!"

Her hands went to her sai and Kisa pulled them free. She tapped the blades together. "You've seen my strength, now show me yours." She fixed him with scary eyes. "And don't disappoint me Zoro. I'd hate to find out you were all talk."

Bitch! Zoro drew a sword in each hand. "You really wanna see my strength? A little woman like you?"

Little? Kisa's eyebrow twitched annoyed. "I'm gonna kick your ass."

Zoro snorted a laugh. "Then come!" Zoro took a stance and then Nani! Kisa vanished in a blur. His eyes darted left and right. Shit where is she!

Kisa appeared behind Zoro with her sai handle pointed at his head. "Too slow," she hit him in the head and Zoro staggered forward.

He whirled on her bringing his swords up to catch her sai. Shit! Her speed! Kisa pushed forward and Zoro slid back in the sand. He was beginning to feel her real strength. "Deme!" Zoro ground his feet into the sand and pushed back.

Kisa let Zoro gain a little ground and then pushed him back again. "You gonna get serious with me or what Zoro?"

"Bitch! You really wanna fight me!" Zoro pushed against Kisa's incredible strength again. Their force rattled their locked weapons together.

Kisa jumped back breaking the deadlock. "I want you to fight me using your santoryu."

Zoro frowned. "Are you nuts? Do you want me to kill you?"

Kisa twirled a sai in her hand and pointed it at him. "Don't worry about it Zoro, you can't hit me."

"I put more into my attacks then just steel you know." Baka! Is she crazy? My demon wind would slice her up.

"Good. Then you can be some real competition for a change."

"Keh!" Zoro's lip curled into a snarl. "Alright, if that's how you wanna play." He stuck his swords in the sand and removed the bandana from his arm. "Don't come crying to me if you get hurt." He tied his do rag on his head and unsheathed Wado. He pulled it out and pointed it at her. "Be sure you want to do this Kisa."

She smiled at his bravado. Such an egomaniac! "Oh, I'm sure Zoro. Come on, let's fight."

Zoro put his sword in his teeth and took up the other two. He put his game face on and charged. Kisa let Zoro get close enough to get some exercise blocking all three swords at once. She evaluated his style as their weapons clashed. As promised Zoro didn't hold back and unleashed an all out assault. Finally Kisa had to jump back from his relentless attacks. The two stood on the sand panting and eyeing each other for a moment and then they broke into a run down the beach.

"Sugee," Ussop marveled watching the fight.

At Ussop's feet Chopper piped up, "Kisa can keep up with Zoro!"

"Ka swan is truly amazing," Sanji said lighting up.

Nami and Robin stood together so Nami asked her, "Ne Robin, how long will they be able to fight like that?"

"As long as it takes I guess," Robin replied and smiled. "They look pretty evenly matched to me. So long as Zoro keeps Ka chan's too busy to perform a jutsu he could have the advantage."

"Could have?" Not does? Nami wondered.

"Ka chan can make herself as strong as Zoro, stronger even using her chakra."

"I see," Ussop pulled down his goggles for a closer look at the fight. "I see. Kisa's sai have a blue glow around them. Chakra. She's using ninja power to compete with Zoro's awesome strength."

Chopper bubbled, "Ninja power really! Sugee!"

Ussop focused in better on the fight. "Zoro's trying to hit her, but Kisa just keeps jumping away or blocking his strikes." They were kicking up sand and it was getting harder to see. "Oh! They've locked weapons again. Oh! Now Ka chan is flipping over Zoro's head. Oh! She punched Zoro in the jaw!"

"That creation better not hit Ka swan back," Sanji grumbled annoyed.

Nami blinked at the sand cloud down the beach. He's only trying to hit her with his sword. "Ne Robin?"

"Daijoubu desu. They won't kill each other. Warriors train to the extreme all the time. Mr. Swordsman and Miss Ninja are probably enjoying their fight."

"Enjoying it?" Nami wrinkled her nose.

"Yep," Sanji puffed. "Zoro's probably got a chubby being able to cut loose like this."

Nami punched Sanji in the head. "Shut up slob. I don't wanna hear that!"

Robin laughed lightly. "For two such fighters a battle like this," she hid a smile in her hand. She had been watching the pair over the last week or so. If she had a berri for every time she saw Zoro checking Ka chan out, even in the middle of their training when his eyes should be elsewhere, she would be rich. "Foreplay," she giggled.

"Nani?" Sanji gasped dismayed. "But I wanna have foreplay with Ka swan too!"

Robin took care of this one. One of her hands appeared on Sanji's shoulder and slapped him in the face. "So cruel Robin chwan"

"Oh!" Ussop adjusted his goggles again.

"What is it Ussop?" Chopper looked up at him.

"I think…eh? I think they're talking."

Zoro stared at Kisa breathing hard. "Oh? That all you got? If that's the case then why don't you just make some more of you?" Zoro slid his right foot back watching Kisa carefully. She was a tough opponent. If his ego wasn't so wounded he might have been impressed. "I saw that ninja witchery of yours."

"Water clone jutsu?" she pant. It had been a while since Kisa had to fight this hard. She had missed the thrill of it. He's good, but he still can't beat me.

"Whatever trick that was. What good will it do you?"

She moved so fast it was a blur. Kisa dropped her sai and moved through the hand seals quickly. Smoke surrounded her and she took up her weapons again. The wind blew the smoke away and a clone stood to either side of Kisa with their weapons ready. "I think the three of us can kick your ass!"

Zoro bit down on the hilt of his sword. Shit! "Bring it bitches!"

"Oh! There's three Kisa's charging Zoro!" Ussop reported excitedly.

Shit, no other choice. You better not die Kisa! Zoro positioned his swords as the Kisa's charged him. Don't you dare die Kisa! Zoro stepped into the move. "Oni Giri!"

His swords destroyed her clones and Kisa dropped to avoid the attack. Shit! She had enough moment up to keep going so Kisa dove feet first between Zoro's legs.

He watched her clones disappear in a puff of smoke and then Kisa was sliding under him. He had the briefest moment to think shit my balls she's gonna punch me in the balls with that monstrous strength of hers and break my ass! Can Chopper fix squished balls! And then Kisa was behind him. "Shitamata!"

Kisa kicked Zoro in the back and sent him flying forward. He caught himself and canted drunkenly as he turned to face her. Kisa was breathing heavy, sweat rolled down her forehead. She was using a lot of chakra to keep up with Zoro's strength. She felt something itch at her lip and Kisa blew out a puff of air. She watched as some of her sliced hair holy hell he cut my bangs! fluttered into the sand.

He couldn't go on like this. Kisa was too fast and too strong. "Aint you tired yet mean bitch!" he yelled from his safe distance away.

"If you're tired we'll finish this now." She had to before her chakra was depleted. "Ora!" Kisa charged. She launched herself at Zoro and fed most of what remained of her chakra into her arms and her sai. Their weapons clashed and Kisa bent Zoro backwards. It was easy enough to trip him and pin him to the ground with his own swords at his throat. Kisa drove her knees into his chest. "Do you yield?"

Shit she beat me! You gotta be fucking kidding me? She beat me! Zoro grit his teeth. "Deme! You bitch Kisa! How did you!"

She realized his ego was aching Zoro most of all. Kisa relaxed and stood up. "I win."

Zoro sat up glaring at her. "You expect someone to beat that unholy strength!

Kisa looked down at Zoro. "Only one that I have fought has ever been able to beat me. Umino Griffith, no one else."

Zoro spit his sword out of his mouth. "So what!" he stood re sheathing his swords.

Kisa put away her sai. "So nothing. I won. That is all."

"You won this time Kisa, but I don't give up that easily. I will beat you." Zoro turned and stomped up the beach and into the trees.

"Yo Zoro, don't you wanna see the village?" Kisa called after him.

"Screw your crappy village mean bitch!" With that he was gone.

Youch bruised male ego coming through. Kisa smiled a little and turned back to the others. She waved a hand at them hurrying up the beach to re join them. "How was that?"

"You're awesome Ka swan Let me buy you a drink please!" Sanji flattered.

Kisa laughed a little and went to stand by Nami. "Sure let's go."

They hit the only pub in town and Luffy started eating. The others sat with him enjoying the islands native rum. It was pretty good. Near sundown Sanji suggested rolling Luffy back to the ship before he ate them out of all of their funds. The crew returned to the Merry and Robin notices that Zoro was not yet aboard. Immediately she knew the idiot had gotten lost. "Ka chan?" she asked sweetly. "I think Zoro must have wandered too far. Would you be a dear and go collect him for us."

"Me? Why me?" He's probably still brooding and pissed at me.

"Ninja are trackers ne?" Robin smiled.

Crap. "Okay, I'll go get him." Kisa hopped overboard and went looking for Zoro.

The sun was setting when Kisa finally caught up to Zoro. She jumped down from the tree in front of him. "Yo Zoro."

Zoro startled. "What you can just drop out of the sky too?" he had cooled off since his defeat on the beach, but that didn't mean he wanted to see the one who had beaten him.

"I use the trees." She could sense Zoro was still bent over losing.

Zoro frowned down at her. "The trees huh? Like a monkey."

She couldn't help but frown. "Yeah like a monkey."

He wasn't sure pissing her off was such a good idea. "What are you doing here Kisa?"

"Robin asked me to find you."

"Oh." He was lost but wouldn't admit it. Zoro turned left and started down what he thought was a path.

Kisa let Zoro get a few steps ahead before she started to follow. Wow, he really is a brooding asshole. She held her tongue for as ling as she could and then, "Yo Zoro…you seem a little mad."

"I'm not mad," he huffed. He had given it some thought. "I'm just pissed I couldn't beat you."

Kisa rolled her eyes. "Zoro, that is mad."

Zoro stopped and turned around to face Kisa. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at me. There should never be a fight that I can't win."

"Oh why not?" Male pride?

"Mihawk," Zoro frowned at the thought of the swordsman. "Hawkeye Mihawk, the swordsman I must defeat to become the greatest in the world."

Kisa was surprised by Zoro's high aspiration. "The greatest…but why? Is fame that important to you?"

He shook his head. "Not fame, a promise. I grew up always trying to beat Kuina. We made a promise that one day one of us would become the greatest swordsman in all the world. Kuina is dead now, she has been for a long time, but I'm still here. As long as I am alive I will do everything in my power to become the best."

"Zoro…" It was a side of him she had never seen before. Zoro was sad, determine.

"Kuina was the only girl that ever beat me, until today." Zoro stared down at the ninja wondering what she was thinking. She didn't look mad or dangerous. There was a soft look in her chilly blue eyes. "I got beat by you."

"I tried to tell you that our strength is different Zoro. I can use my chakra to make myself much stronger and faster. You didn't lose because you're weak."

"No, just not strong enough." It was weird looking down at her like this. Not long ago he would have loved to just haul off and pop the mean bitch in the jaw. And now I'm telling her stuff? What the hell? Zoro shook his head. "Forget it. It doesn't matter."

Zoro started to turn away and Kisa caught his arm. "Hey wait a minute Zoro."

He stopped in mid turn and looked at her. Kisa had grabbed his arm, not hard just enough to get his attention. She's touching me. "What?"

"I can help you…with your chakra. Show you how to use it."

"What? Ninja voodoo? You gonna curse me witch?"

She let his annoying jabs slide for the moment. His story had moved her. Zoro was trying to live out his friends dream. A girl he lost. "It's not voodoo. I can show you how to be stronger like me."

Zoro shuffled a step closer to Kisa staring her down. "So chakra is where you get that insane strength of yours."

"I've been telling you that for about a month now Zoro."

"So what? Your strength's not real. If someone took away that chakra you have you couldn't beat me."

"Could someone steal your chi?"

"No…" Zoro thought it over. "Well maybe but that would be pretty hard to do."

Kisa nodded and let go of Zoro's arm. "Same goes for chakra."

Maybe this chakra stuff wasn't all trickery. If it could make Zoro stronger Strong enough to beat this mean bitch He leaned a little closer to Kisa watching her eyes. "Oh yeah? That right?"

"Yes."

Something smells...yummy. Zoro sniffed in a breath through his nose. It's her. Zoro grinned. "Well then Kisa, why don't you take a walk with me and tell me some more about this chakra stuff."

Kisa pointed them back in the direction of the Merry. "This way Zoro."

Zoro held an arm out. "Lead the way."

Kisa talked to Zoro as they made their way back to the ship. She related it to chi to make it more understandable to him. It was funny how hard it was to explaine chakra to somebody. She had never had to before. Kisa had spent her life surrounded by other ninja. Her nakama were different then anyone she had ever known; so full of grand dreams and high hopes. He was happy with them, crazy bunch that they were. She had grown to love them to become one of them.

That night Zoro sat with Kisa to port sharing a jug of some rough tasting cherry whiskey. Kisa went on explaining many things about the shinobi. Zoro told Kisa everything he could remember of his training, of his days surviving as a bounty hunter.

Robin and Nami stood at the starboard rail having one of Sanji's drinks. Robin smiled. "Look how well Mr. Swordsman and Miss Ninja get along now."

Nami laughed a little. "Sure all they had to do was try and kill each other."

Robin heard the pair the couple laughing together. "It was a good thing."

"Yeah, foreplay right Robin? Good one." Nami tossed back what was left of her drink and started toward the galley. "You coming?"

Robin followed Nami in for a fresh drink. "Sure."

Over the next few weeks the majority of islands the Going Merry stopped at had ports and cities. The day before Kisa's birthday they were in Lucca when Nami had a great idea. They left Kisa to watch the ship one afternoon and Nami sent the crew shopping. Kisa had been wearing Nami's clothes for nearly three months now, it was time to get her friend her own wardrobe. Nami and Robin hit the shops with Luffy and Chopper to carry their bags. Ussop found a t-shirt shop and had one special made for Ka chan. The front of the pink shirt brandished a picture of the great captain Ussop looking fierce! Sanji knew exactly what he would get his Ka swan and headed for the lingerie shop to purchase a plethora of silky and lacy things. He was confident he knew her bra size. Zoro wandered trying to find something that Kisa would approve of. He was afraid to bring her back something she wouldn't like; it could get his ass beat.

An excited crew returned to the Merry and presented Kisa with an abundance of shopping bags. Kisa blinked startled and a little embarrassed. "What's all this?"

"Happy birthday!" Luffy whooped.

"We found you the cutest outfits," Nami chirped.

Ussop whipped the t shirt out of the bag. "Oi Kisa aint this cool!"

Sanji pulled the sleeve of a silky robe from his bag of goodies and rubbed it against his cheek. "I got you something soft to lay against your smooth skin Ka swan"

Zoro rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah well at least I got you something functional." Zoro pulled new sai sheaths from his bag. "These will fit ne Kisa?"

Kisa looked at her nakama. "Guys…you shouldn't have."

"Forget that!" Nami was excited. "Let's go try on clothes!"

The women disappeared to their room for a while. The guys moved to the galley and started in on pre dinner cocktails. Eventually the girls joined them, Kisa wearing the shirt with Ussop's face plastered on the front. She thought it was a hilarious gift and Chopper liked it a lot too. Kisa sat to Zoro's right at the table showing off her new clothes and sai sheaths. Sanji passed the ladies some fruity booze.

Zoro suddenly remembered the other gift he got for Kisa. He set his mug of beer down and fished in his pocket. "That's right, I almost forgot this thing." He pulled a small silver ring from his pocket and smiled at Kisa. "Found this in the sword shop. It was too small to fit on my finger, couldn't even get it past the second knuckle on my pinky." He grabbed Kisa's hand and found the finger it would fit, her ring finger of course just as he thought. "The ring is three swords. It's really cool isn't it?" Zoro smiled at his awesome gift as he slipped it on Kisa's finger. "It wouldn't fit me so I thought that if you were wearing it I could still look at it whenever I wanted."

All Sanji saw was a silver band on Kisa's left hand. "Oi Zoro, what the hell do you think you're doing ne?"

Zoro looked up at Sanji's scowl. Beside him Nami was also frowning. "What?"

"Baka," Nami criticized. "You don't put a ring on Ka chan's finger unless it's got a huge diamond on it!"

Zoro didn't get it until he looked over at Kisa again. She was blushing but admiring the ring he gave her. Uh… wait a minute…it looks like…

Luffy giggled wildly. "You gonna marry Kisa ne Zoro?"

Zoro had to defend himself. He grabbed Kisa's hand. "Urasaina! This hand was just closer idiot! See?" he shook her hand a little to make his point.

Kisa laughed slightly embarrassed and retrieved her hand. "It's a very cool ring Zoro thank you." She eased the ring off her left hand and slipped it on her right ring finger. "I prefer to wear jewelry on my right hand."

"Sure, okay." Zoro picked up his mug and tried to hide his burning cheeks behind it. He guzzled some beer. "It's silver. You said silver was okay with chakra right?"

She was pleased he had been paying attention. "Silver doesn't impede the flow of chakra; it's a pure metal."

Sanji lit a cigarette still glaring at Zoro. "Aho."

Zoro frowned at Sanji. "Shut up love cook! At least I didn't buy Kisa panties!"

"Ka swan needed panties," Sanji argued. "Red ones, pink ones, virgin white ones. Do you like your panties Ka swan"

Oh boy. Kisa smiled and Nami hit Sanji in the head. "Yes, thank you everyone. You guys are really…too much." She laughed sure that she had made the right choice when she decided to stay aboard the Merry. My nakama… Kisa shook her head smiling and finished her drink.

The preverbal well of islands with great ports seemed to run dry over the next few weeks. Many islands they hit were mostly uninhabited or had small fishing villages. It didn't take long for a pattern to develop. Zoro would get lost and Robin would send Kisa to find him. Sometimes Zoro got really lost, sometimes Kisa hit him in the head for being so stupid. The two trained hard on and off the Merry, but Zoro was still having a bitch of a time figuring out Kisa's ninja power chakra. It frustrated him beyond words often making him miserable company. Kisa had her own problems. Months had passed with no sign at all of a shinobi mark on any island that they had visited. Kisa was still lost.

The Merry needed fresh water and so on the next uninhabited island the crew set to work finding it. Not far from shore they found a spring and began the tedious job of hauling water back to the Going Merry. Of course Zoro got stuck hauling the barrels while Kisa searched the island for the shinobi mark.

It was the last barrel he had to carry today and Zoro was glad of it. He wasn't tired and he didn't mind the exercise, but he was getting bug bit to all hell. The mosquitoes were driving him crazy. One of the annoying little chiggers tried to fly up his nose. Zoro stopped and sneezed. "Godamnit!" He stuck his pinky in his nostril searching for the bug. "You damn chigger!"

Zoro flicked the dead mosquito off his finger. "You flew up the wrong nose asshole." Zoro turned to the left and started down what he thought was the path back to the beach. Ten minutes later he was completely lost.

Afternoon was getting old and Zoro was about an hour late getting back to the ship when Kisa arrived back aboard. "Ka chan," Robin addressed her looking up from her book.

Kisa looked at Robin. Oh man don't tell me… Kisa sighed. "Zoro aint here is he?"

Robin smiled sweetly. "No he's not."

Kisa scowled. "How can that idiot get lost twenty yards from the ship?"

Robin shrugged. "You should hurry. It looks like rain."

It didn't just look like rain; it smelled like rain felt like rain. Idiot. "I'll be back." Kisa leapt off the ship to the beach and into the woods.

Robin smiled and nodded. Maybe I should just get Ka chan a leash for Zoro ne? She turned her eyes back to her book giggling to herself.

It wasn't hard to follow Zoro's back trail. He crashed through the brush like an elephant occasionally leaving something dead in his wake. The temperature was dropping quickly and the sky above was foreboding grey. Kisa felt the first drops of cold spring rain just before she heard Zoro grumbling to himself to her right. She veered toward him and jumped down in front of him. "Yo Zoro."

Zoro frowned at Kisa. She looked pissed. "What?"

"Aho, do you have any idea how far we are from the ship?"

"Obviously not," Zoro grumbled. Keh! Why they always gotta send her to find me?

The fat raindrops started to fall a little faster. Great we're going to get hypothermia in this spring rain. "Follow me you idiot I remember seeing a precipice we can duck under until this passes."

"Scared you'll melt in the rain like the wicked witch," Zoro thought it was a great insult.

Kisa pointed a finger at Zoro. "I'm about to be the wicked bitch!"

"What do you mean about to be ne?"

Before the dim whit had a chance to react Kisa punched him solidly on top of the head. "Baka Zoro!"

Zoro reached for his throbbing noggin. "See I told you you're a bitch!" It earned him another thump in the head. "Stop hitting me damnit!"

"Urasaina!" Kisa snapped. She turned them to the right. "Just follow me asshole."

Grumbling Zoro did. He didn't mumble too loudly, Kisa was a mean bitch, scary and dangerous when she got mad. It's her hands, the chakra stuff she puts in her sai. It didn't take long for Kisa to take them to shelter but Zoro was wet and cold by the time they got there. He left the barrel in the rain and ducked under cover.

Kisa was cold too. She sat and drew her knees up trying to get warm. She frowned out at the rain watching it splash off the top of the water barrel. "Kuso."

Zoro could see his breath when he exhaled. "How come it's so fuckin cold?" he shivered.

"This is a spring island and most spring rain is cold." Idiot.

Zoro breathed out another white puff into the air. Fuck this I aint gonna sit here and freeze to death. He scooted closer to Kisa and she turned dangerous eyes on him. "Oi oi don't go getting all evil. I just wanna get warm."

Kisa glared at Zoro. "You lay one hand on me and you're gonna draw back a nub."

Zoro startled and grit his teeth. "Why you always gotta be such a damn mean bitch? You're cold too."

Kisa rolled her eyes. "I'm not as weak as you. I'm not cold at all."

"Keh! If you're not cold then how come you're nip-"

She didn't give Zoro the chance to finish his sentence. Kisa punched him in the forehead and sent him skidding backwards on his ass. "Pervert!"

Zoro raised a hand to his ringing head. "Why do you always gotta hit me?"

Kisa hugged her knees tightly to her chest and looked away from Zoro. "Why do you always gotta be so stupid?"

Zoro ground his teeth together. Mean bitch. "Fine then I don't need you. I can keep myself warm damnit!"

"Yeah you do that."

His vision cleared and he glared at Kisa in the gloom. She must be really pissed. Her face is all red. Zoro shook off her punch and positioned himself to do some push ups. He started with his left hand. By his twentieth repetition he couldn't stay quiet anymore. "Oi Kisa, how come they always send you to find me huh?"

"Cuz I don't get lost."

"You got lost once."

"I was following your dumb ass. It was before I knew you were an idiot."

Deme! "So what if I get lost?"

Kisa shook her head. "Never mind Zoro."

He cut his eyes over to her and looked at her sidelong. "So did you find anything on the island today? That mark you were looking for?"

"No." It was discouraging to say the least that for three months now Kisa had sailed with no direction at all. It put her in a bad mood.

Zoro stared down at the dirt. "When you find a mark?"

"Then I will know which way to go. Didn't I tell you all of this before Zoro?"

"I think you told Robin."

"Whatever." Kisa sighed. She was sure she told Zoro all of this before, he just didn't listen. "The shinobi leave an arrow facing the direction they sail away from the island from. Follow the marks, and you'll find Home. Someone out there has to have an eternal pose. They're leaving the trail for the rest of us, leading us Home."

It sounded kind of crazy to him. "So you're just supposed to follow some arrows? What if it's all just a wild goose chase?"

Kisa frowned at Zoro. "Why the hell would it be?"

"Oh that's right," Zoro grunted. "You ninja are all serious as a heart attack."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He tipped his chin up and shot Kisa a snotty glare. "It means you can lighten up. Jeez Kisa you're too godamn serious. Learn to have a little fun."

"Fun? My people could be!"

"Your people could be just fine for all you know."

It was something she certainly hoped for herself. "That's the thing Zoro, I don't know."

Zoro sat up on his knees and gave Kisa the hard eyeball. "Are you Home? Is there anything you can do this very moment to help the shinobi? I mean this exact second Kisa."

She frowned at him a little. "How am I supposed to help the shinobi right now? I'm stuck in the rain with you."

Zoro nodded. "Exactly."

"Exactly what? What are you talking about you retard?"

He ground his teeth a little at the retard jab. "Keh! I'm just saying why don't you try living in the moment?"

Kisa rolled her eyes. "Now you just sound like Luffy."

"So what's wrong with sounding like Luffy? Luffy is right about a lot of stuff."

It was mostly true; Kisa had learned that Luffy logic was the damndest thing. "Look Zoro, I see what you're saying but…"

He shook his head. "I can see that you're devoted to your people Kisa but you should try to have a life of your own too. It could be a long time before you find Home, but you got us to keep ya busy right?" he grinned a little at her.

"Yeah," Kisa stared back out at the rain willing it to stop. Have a life with my nakama.

Zoro went back to keeping warm with pushups. He could tell Kisa was aggravated. Whenever she couldn't find sign of shinobi it made her miserable. Must suck to be so lost. Soon enough the rain tapered off to a drizzle and the sun peaked through the clouds. Zoro re shouldered the barrel of water and followed Kisa back through the jungle. They reached the crest of a hill and Kisa stopped. Zoro stopped behind her looking for danger. "What is it Kisa?"

Kisa looked over the island. The rain had soaked everything and the light of the sunset reflected off the rain water. The island seemed to glow like a jewel. "Wow…look at that."

Zoro stepped up beside Kisa and took in the pretty view. He smiled a little. "See now, if I hadn't gotten lost today we never would have seen this. It's worth it ne?" Zoro thought the island sparkling in the sunset was pretty too.

Kisa smiled for the first time in hours and forgot about the shinobi for now. "Yeah I guess. Come on Zoro; let's get back to the others." Kisa started down the path to the Merry with Zoro in her shadow. Have a life with my nakama. Why not?