Title: Duel

Author: Stelok

Rating: PG

Pairing: Zoro/Tashigi

Sergeant Major Tashigi learned that Zoro the erstwhile pirate hunter had been sighted in a nearby town so she assembled a large team of marines and personally took them to the town where her target was living.

She had spent several months hunting Zoro since she met him for the first time and she vowed to capture him so badly because he was a pirate who denied her the right to a duel and must be delivered to justice. Now she had an opportunity to face Zoro and she would promise herself not to lose the opportunity.

Once she and her marines arrived in town, her tactical mind convinced her that it was necessary to split her team into smaller groups in order to effect quicker searches for Zoro.

"We will have to split up into each team of ten men. Corporal Troup, you take ten men to the East section. Sergeant Hawk, your team will take the East. North is yours, Corporal Bludd. I will remain in the South and look for Zoro," Tashigi said.

"Yes, Sergeant-Major," acknowledged Troup, Hawk and Bludd.

"Good. Carry your orders," ordered Tashigi.

As Tashigi and her subordinates split into four groups, she started wandering around the South section and interviewed the residents for information on Zoro's whereabouts.

She finally found solid information when she quizzed an innkeeper at a small hotel.

"Do you know a green-haired man with three swords?" the Sergeant-Major inquired.

"Why, yes. The green-haired man you are looking for is in room 32 in my inn with his friends," the innkeeper informed her.

"How many friends does he have and what do they look like?"

"Two. One boy with a straw hat and one cute red-haired girl."

"Thank you, innkeeper," Tashigi gratifyingly said.

"Please don't do anything that will ruin my hotel, okay?" the innkeeper pleaded.

"We won't damage your property. If we can't save your property, I will gladly pay for the damages," she assured him. Then the sergeant-major turned to her men and ordered them to use discretion and quietly capture Zoro and his friends right in the room.

Arriving at the room 32 upstairs, Tashigi decided to knock the door rather than breaking it.

"Who is it?" came a masculine voice. But it didn't sound like Zoro. So Tashigi assumed It must be Zoro's friend. She managed to disguise her voice by making it hoarse so Zoro wouldn't recognize her.

"It is room service. You ordered food, sir,"

"We didn't order any food. Leave us alone. Don't disturb us," came another masculine voice. This time, she recognized it as Zoro.

"But you ordered food. Will you open the door and see me or not?" she insisted.

"All right," Zoro resigned. As the door opened, the green-haired man was surprised to see Tashigi and her men pointing rifles at him. At first he wanted to whack them out. But he decided against it because the swords were on the bed away from him so he raised his hands in air and said "Luffy, Nami, We've got company."

"What are you talk—oh!" Nami gasped as she saw the marines past Zoro.

Zoro backed away, allowing Tashigi and other marines to enter the room. Some of the marines pointed their rifles at Luffy and Nami prompting both of them to lift their hands in the air.

"You three are under arrest on the charges of piracy," Tashigi said sternly.

A lot of thoughts came into Luffy's mind. He could charge and take them down at once. He didn't need to worry about it because bullets couldn't hurt his rubber body. But bullets could hurt Nami. But he figured how to take care of the problem by trying to shield her with his body. But He was worried about Zoro.

'Can he reach the swords in time?' Luffy thought. His question was answered by Zoro's swift move to reach his three swords on the bed. Luffy noticed his action and quickly shielded Nami with his body before the marines opened fire at three of them but they weren't quick.

Bullets ricocheted off Luffy's rubber body and returned to the ones who fired them. Luckily for the marines, the bullets randomly missed them as they jumped nervously.

Zoro managed to grab the swords and dodged the gunfire at the same time. Then he was able to render all marines except Tashigi unconscious by knocking them on their heads with the flats of his two swords. The sergeant Major was clearly the only one conscious.

Not backing away nor sniveling like a kitten, Tashigi bravely put on a stand and unsheathed her sword.

"Zoro, I am not down yet. I challenge you to a duel," Tashigi said.

The swordsman stared at the woman for a moment. But to her outrage, Zoro turned his face away from her. He switched his attention to his two friends and said, "Forget her. Let's get out of here."

She had never felt so insulted since Zoro declined her previous challenge. 'That was the second time he's turned my duel down' Tashigi angrily thought.

"What the hell do you think you are? Face me like a man, you coward?" Tashigi furiously yelled as Zoro, Luffy and Nami rushed through the window. Not wasting more time, she went after them but she was too late. The three already jumped out of the window.

Tashigi peeked out from the window, looking at them escape. She couldn't let them escape not after the hard work of looking for them so she jumped out of the window, too and vigilantly started to chase her targets.

"Split up, guys. She can't catch all three of us at the same time," Luffy suggested, looking at their pursuer.

"Good idea," agreed Nami. Zoro also agreed, hoping Tashigi would track Luffy instead of him.

When three pirates separated, Tashigi didn't hesitate to pursue after Zoro instead of Luffy or Nami much to the swordsman's irritation.