A Flightless Bird, An Unrelenting Sword
Chapter 1: Stop and Go
Tashigi tries Assertion!
The wanted poster hanging above her dresser, she'd stare at it everyday. A million thoughts racing top speed through her mind. Mostly anger, but often longing, though no one could ever know that. When would be the next time she would ever see him? A feeling of a million years couldn't come close to thi-
"TASHIGI!" A thunderous voice jolted her off her bed and into the dock hallway where Vice Admiral Smoker greeted her. "Sm-Smoker san! I'm sorry I got a little carried away reading-" He fanned his hand in the air. "No matter. Did you finish signing off on those documents I handed to you yesterday?" Tashigi produced the aforementioned papers. "Yes sir! They're right here." She handed them over to him. His face stern as ever, he flipped through the papers and handed them to a ship hand. "We'll be at sea for at least another week until we reach the next large island. Use this time to be productive Captain." "Yes sir!"
She was tense until he was completely out of sight, and when he was, she sighed of relief. "I suppose I should practice my Haki abilities. Smoker says I'm not quite ready to use it in battle…" With that she grabbed her Shigure and made her way to the training quarters. Walking through the ship, she remembered two years ago when she had first met him. The only time he stood on this ship, "working" to pay for her crushed glasses. She smiled and laughed a little at the thought. Her mind trailed to last week, and their fight against the Harpy Monet. He saved Smokers life at Alabasta, and he saved hers there. Granted, he annoyed her to say the least but he couldn't be that bad, could he? He's a strong warrior, dedicated and faithful to his nakama. Despite his occupation, he'd never actually raped or pillaged had he? She caught herself in the mist of reasoning this pirate's innocence and continued to the training quarters.
Practicing her technique she masterfully drew her blade and begun attacking the targets in the room. "I have to prove to him that I am not his subordinate!" With each thought each slice became more vigorous putting her in a fighting trance like state. The next time they met he would certainly be su-
"BELE BELE BELE BELE…BELE BELE BELE…" The den den mushi anchored on the wall began to ring. She sheathed Shigure and went to answer it. "Who would disturb me at this time?" Frustrated at her thoughts consistently being interrupted she harshly answered.
"Yes?! What is it?!" The sound of a throat clearing on the other line. "Oh, um Smoker san! My apologies! Yes sir?" His voice sounding nonetheless stern, "I have a mission for you. Report to my office." CLICK!
For one second she thought of quitting the Marines, just one second!
She made her way to Smokers quarters. The door was open and he sat behind his desk with his legs propped on it. It was at least 94 degrees outside due to the wild nature of Grand line weather. His coat was off leaving his chest bare, but there he was still smoking two cigars, possibly generating another two degrees just like that.
Tashigi blushed at the sight of her superior. She didn't think a single image in the world could look as machismo as he sitting there. He blankly stared at her. Was he even blinking? Her frustration was pent up all day, she was boiling due to the temperature, and a million other crazy (and perhaps a bit risqué) thoughts were circling her mind about a certain marimo pirate. If he could sit before her with no care of exposing himself, so could she!
"Excuse me Vice Admiral, but I'm finding it extremely smothering in here." She took off her pink Marine coat and threw it to the ground. She then unbuttoned her top, stopping just before her chest was revealed. She appeared to have confidence in asserting her femininity, but inside she was trembling, daring to compete in this way with Smoker. But still, as if oblivious to her wants, he remained blank faced.
"There is a Pirate Crew on a small island about 115 miles from our current location. Their captain is wanted for robbery, and murder. Bounty: 1,000,000 Beli. It should be no problem for you to subdue and bring him aboard for an arrest should it?" He blew out a large plume of smoke. Tashigi crossed her arms. "What if I refuse?" He sat expressionless.
"Did you say something Captain?"
"What am I doing? I can't stand to Smoker San! But I haven't had a day to myself in months! And my training is constantly interjected! And look at him! Just because he's a man doesn't mean he can intimidate me with his body like that! I'm a captain now, I've got to be a little more assertive!"
"Yes I did Admiral Smoker." His arms reaching across the room in the form of smoke he shut the door. "This had better be good Tashigi."
She walked up to his desk and firmly placed her hands down on it. Leaning over like that her chest was revealed in his direct line of sight. But his poker face- Smoker face was absolutely unchanging. "I'm not going. I'm busy training. Send some of the soldiers in my stead Smoker." He raised an eyebrow and blew out another plume of smoke. It covered her body and warmly heated her. "Urgh…now he's toying with me. He's just trying to break me that's all."
"Did you fall on your head or something Tashigi?"
She pouted and puffed her cheeks. How dare he make fun of her! At this his face turned bright pink. He blushed much like… much like the pirate hunter, when he saw her make the same expression! Could that mean?
"A woman has desires too! I've been a good soldier to him for years, he could at least give me a break…I'm sure by now I deserve at least one."
Acting out of herself she slid over the table and into his lap, knocking his cigars out of his mouth. He didn't budge.
She unsheathed Shigure and held it to his neck. Still nothing.
On a whim, she kissed him. She clenched her eyes tight. "Oh god, what am I doing?!"
He kissed her back. She felt warm smoke encapsulating her body. His arms. "Oh god what is he doing?!"
The smoke lifted Shigure from her hands and sheathed it into its Saya. He broke the kiss. "Tashigi, you're overworked. But I trust you exclusively to get the most sensitive missions done. I understand what's wrong, but there's no need for this." She sat still on his lap, glaring indefinitely into his eyes. He removed her glasses. "Roronoa Zoro, I'm not him." She sensed a tinge of child like jealousy in his voice.
In shock, her eyes welled. How could he know? Was it that obvious? Had he been reading her travel log? That damn wanted poster hanging above her dresser; it's been there for at least 1½ years by now. Surely he noticed her strange obsession with it. But what did it matter to him?
He held her close to his warm body. "Smoker san…" "I'm sending you there on intel that the Straw Hats are there. I know what this means to you. To confront Zoro." For some reason she sensed a sadness in his voice. Did he not want to lose her to Zoro? No, impossible! Smoker was her superior, her mentor, and her best friend. There's no way he could ever have interest on the clumsy marine he trained and worked with for years. He held her face, his hands concealed behind rough leather gloves maintaining his stolid expression despite the solidarity he felt with Tashigi in that moment.
"I know once you leave for that island I might not see you for a long time. I've known since last week you've been thinking about that Straw Hat, questioning your justice." Tashigi gasped and held her mouth. He shrugged. "Sorry. Your travelog…" Tears began rolling down her face. She bit her bottom lip. She gathered her balance of off his lap and walked to the window. The crystal blue ocean shimmered, illuminated by the harsh sun. She longed to be out there, free from the politics and struggles of being a marine. Free to share her dream of reclaiming the worlds most infamous meito with, Zoro. Smoker folded his hands and rest them on his head.
"I'M SORRY SMOKER SAN! I'M RENOUNCING MY TITLE! I…I WISH TO JOIN THE STRAW HATS!"
She couldn't contain the influx of tears that shot out of her eyes with no restraint. She fell to the ground and a gust of smoke blew to her. He supported her standing up and guided her to the bed in the room. They sat. "If that's where you feel justice lies, I won't stop you." "Please Smoker, tell me, do you feel as though I am betraying you?" He smirked "I trust your judgment little lady." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Oh Smoker san…don't call me that." She laughed and wrapped her petite arms around his large muscular frame. He added, "And besides, who said I won't be right behind you?" They met eyes. This is the first time I actually see him smiling like this…He looks, so happy.
"Smoker, would it be wrong of us to…..?"
Tashigi looked down too afraid to request to share their bodies for the first and last time. She's always wanted to, and some small part of her hoped that he secretly longed for her as well. Of all of the years they've been traveling, the pair somehow managed to avoid any contact in quarters too close for comfort. But Tashigi knew as the only woman aboard their ship that the marine soldiers weren't the only ones gaping and fantasizing about their katana wielding captain. However, she also knew very well Smoker could sternly keep himself composed in the most tempting of situations.
She laid herself on the bed unbuttoning the remaining constriction that prevented him from seeing her bare soft skin. He said nothing; simply shaking his head and pulling her so close to him their chests grazed lightly and held their positions. Seeing her so vulnerable and pinned beneath him ignited a flame inside him that sent his blood rushing. He wasn't very good at being docile, but he certainly didn't want to hu-
"OI OI! Captain Eyeglasses! Are you okay?" "Huh?" Tashigi's vision was clouded as she awoke with the glaring sun piercing her eyes. A blurry figure stood in front of her as she scrambled for her Shigure. "St-stand back! I will strike!" She pushed her body back in the sand to evade her attacker, or so she thought. "Hey calm down will you?! I was trying to give you this clutz." Her glasses fell in her lap and she quickly shifted them on her face.
"RORONOA ZORO?!"