Denial
By Yukirei (a.k.a. Cosmiko Ling)

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters. One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichiro-sensei. This is a non-profit fanfiction written by a fan, for the enjoyment of other fans.
Warning: Spoilers for chapter 420+
Pairing(s): Sandai Kitetsu x Yubashiri, implied Zoro x Sanji
Summary: He does not miss him.
A/N: Inspired by manga events and LiveJournal community, onepieceyaoi100's not-topics for the week: sudden deaths unmissed swords random cameos by obsessive second commanders of large pirate fleets...

Even amid the thirst for blood that had overpowered my senses, I distinctly, very suddenly, felt his absence. His body was broken, his spirit no longer detectable. Of course, that hadn't affected me then; neither is it affecting me now.

Wadou is humming quietly, as we lay beside our master; it's his usual calm, sad song.

I glower at him darkly.

He pauses, turns his attention to me for a brief moment, and then continues, ignoring me entirely. Wadou doesn't miss him; his emotions are reserved only for his masters, not other swords.

I don't miss him either.

He was an admirable sword, strong despite his lightness. But sentimentality is not a word associated with me. I don't miss him. I don't miss his soft laughter that would lighten the air weighed down by Wadou and me.

No one says you do.

Wadou's humming annoys the hell out of me.

"Ou, Ace! What brings you here?" A joyful shout travels to where we are.

My master cracks open an eye.

There is some unclear exchange of words.

Then, from closer by, a voice calls. "Would you like something to eat? I'm just preparing afternoon snacks."

"FOOD!"

"If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all. I'll bring them out in a moment."

"It's alright, I'll help myself."

"I'll help myself too!"

"You stay out till it's ready!"

The vibration of footsteps passes by and fades away.

A second passes. Two.

Then my master suddenly rouses, grabbing Wadou and me as he stands and follows the previous speakers.

I sense the animosity he emanates, different from that when facing his regular opponent alone. It contains more anger and some anxiousness; its strength alone makes me tingle. I push not missing Yubashiri out of my mind and sing over Wadou's humming, hoping for the delightful taste of blood.

Date written: 8 October 2006

Post-fic A/N: The way Zoro is able to sense his swords always make me feel that they are themselves alive. These are the personalities that I picture of them - I wonder how many reading this agree. XD Sandai Kitetsu, powerful, tough, gruff, he lives for the bloodshed, or maybe it was more like fighting was the only thing he had known (till he met Yubashiri~ - so goes my imagination XD). And as I once mentioned to ecphrastic, when I wrote this, I originally saw Wadou Ichimonji as a female, loyal and proud but otherwise cold and unfeeling. But the name felt male. Thus, male Wadou became in this fic. And... Yubashiri would be like a smiling bishounen.