The Warlords


Chapter 11: Tashigi was NOT Dumped by Zoro


There was an awkward silence as Mihawk and the three groupies sat down at a nearby café. Mihawk's blade was still in his hand, unsheathed, and the Roronoa Zoro fan club was looking nervous. Mihawk hadn't been blinking at all.

"Um… Excuse me, miss?" The fat one, who'd been introduced as Dwayne, called out to a waitress. "Can we have a three large sodas, one portion of chips, a club sandwich, and a chocolate fudge cake? Do you guys want anything?" He hesitantly looked to Mihawk. "How about you…?"

If looks could kill, then he would have been repeatedly stabbed to death. Dwayne gulped uneasily. "No, it looks like we're alright here," he said weakly to the waitress, who scuttled away.

The awkward silence returned with a vengeance. All eyes were suddenly on Dwayne, who shifted in his chair. "What?" He asked defensively. "I get hungry when I'm nervous…"

Mihawk did not respond. The very fact that everyone else at the table was even dressed as Roronoa Zoro was sparking every murderous instinct the swordsman had. He stared between each of them, like a bird of prey sizing up its target.

Finally, the skinny one, Ando, spoke up uncertainly, raising his hand like a nervous school child. "Excuse me… mister…" He stuttered, glancing down at the sharp blade in Mihawk's hand. "Do you think you could put the sword away?"

Mihawk was silent for a long time. "No," he replied eventually.

Ando dropped back in his seat. The girl, called Kimiko, straightened her glasses nervously. "What do you want with us?" She muttered.

"You're going to tell me everything you know about Roronoa Zoro," Mihawk replied, keeping his tone of voice very calm through great force of will. "Where he lives, who his friends are, where I can find him, and what's the best way of killing him. And then, I'm going to go on my way and never look at any of you again."

The three of them shared glances. After half a second, Kimiko dug down into her rucksack and pulled out a tattered pile of papers. "This is the manuscript of a book we're writing on Zoro," she explained slowly, pushing the papers towards Mihawk. "It's a biography…"

The swordsman glanced downwards at the title. "'Roronoa Zoro- Legendary Awesomeness of the Greatest'…"Mihawk read carefully.

"It's a working title," Ando muttered sheepishly.

Mihawk started to flick through the pages. The word 'badass' appeared several dozen times in the first page alone.

"That's actually what we're doing in the East Blue," Dwayne explained. "We're on a pilgrimage – retracing the life of Zoro…"

"It was the club president's idea," Ando added, with a small smile. "The president is the biggest Zoro fan in the universe, so he sent us on this quest…"

There was a small nod. "Zoro was born in the East Blue?" Mihawk asked finally.

"Yes, it's the most perfect story ever!" Kimiko squealed with excitement. "He was entrusted with his first sword by his childhood crush, and then he went on to singlehandedly defeat the evil Axe Hand Morgan after eighty days of fasting, and then he broke the fleet of Don Kreig in a single blow, and he's the most…"

Mihawk started staring at her again. She quickly shut up. "It's all in the book," she murmured.

"So where is Zoro now?" Mihawk asked eventually. Most of the 'book' was a mess of scribbles and alterations.

Dwayne shrugged. "In the New World, I guess. Information doesn't really flow freely out of the Grand Line, and the Marines have been extra tight lately."

"There've been rumours that Zoro's crew has fallen apart, mind," Ando noted. "No one's really sure what happened, but they've definitely been moving around separately recently. Lots of big names have been moving, actually…"

Mihawk paused reading through the book. "Wait…" He muttered. "You said you were retracing Zoro's past. So what's in Loguetown about Zoro's past?"

Kimiko cleared her throat. "It's a more of a matter of whom," she said. "We were… trying to get an interview with the Marine captain that runs this town."

"You mean this captain has fought Zoro?"

She nodded. "Yes, they used to fight. They used to fight a lot, actually. And then later, well… they kind of used to date."

For a second, Mihawk was confused. "Date? You mean like…"

Dwayne smirked. "Yep – date." He paused. "Although, by all accords, they used to date very violently."

"The captain who runs this town is a woman called Tashigi," Ando clarified. "And she used to be Zoro's girlfriend. And she… well… she didn't really take it very well after they broke up…"


In the Marine base at the centre of the town, the atmosphere was tense. It was always tense in this base, as a matter fact. It was a much whispered rumour that being stationed at Loguetown was about as safe as a career juggling flamethrowers.

The marines were out in the yard early. No order had been given, but they were already in formation and standing to attention. The base was spotless. Every cannon had been cleaned, every rifle was polished. The floors had been cleaned to perfection, and every shoe was so shiny it could be used as a mirror. The creases on every soldier's uniform were so sharp they could cut butter.

Still, they were all nervous as slowly the clocked ticked towards seven o clock, and their commanding officer was about to start the evening inspection.

As soon as the clock started to chime, the doors burst open with sudden impact and a figure stomped out. Tashigi was tall, dark-haired, and lean. She filled out her uniform very well, with curves in all the right places, but the captain had been known to flog anyone who stared in the wrong way. Tashigi walked with a constant air of frustration, her face twisted in a scowl and her sword slung over her back.

"Lieutenant!" She snapped loudly. "Have all the dockets been completed?"

The marine snapped to attention in record time. Tashigi had been known to flog anyone who didn't respond fast enough. "Yes ma'am! Filled out and filed, ma'am!"

"Has the inventory been sorted?"

"Yes ma'am! Alphabetically and numerically, ma'am!"

"Equipment requisitions?"

"Cleaned and sorted, ma'am!" A bead of sweat was falling down the lieutenant's brow now.

Tashigi paused for half a second. "The lost and found box?" She demanded eventually.

The lieutenant stuttered. "I'm so sorry, ma'am! It slipped my mind, ma'am! I'll do it right away!"

"Leave it," Tashigi barked. "Do better tomorrow, lieutenant, or I will have you demoted for incompetence."

The assembled marines were standing so straight they could have been used for a ruler. They saluted in perfect synchronisation.

"Stand down!" Tashigi ordered sharply. "Why is everyone waiting around here? It's past seven, start your evening rounds already!"

At once, they broke ranks and started hurrying away. The captain turned and announced to the whole base, "Listen up, soldiers! Piracy, thievery, vagrancy and disorder are at an all-time high! This ends tonight!" She proclaimed. The marines looked panicked.

"You will each do three rounds of the town and report into the base at the end of each shift!" Tashigi shouted loudly. "Anybody found slacking will be flogged. Any member of the public, civilian or otherwise, found outside after nightfall will be slammed into the cells. As of this moment, curfew is now in effect!"

There were assembled shouts of 'Yes ma'am!'. One marine, a new transfer most likely, dared to raise his hand.

"Curfew on whose authority, ma'am?" The marine asked smartly. Around him, everyone else tried desperately to get away from him without actually moving.

Tashigi was on the brave questioner in an instant. "Mine," she snarled. "Name and rank, marine?"

He saluted again. "Chief Petty Officer Campbell, ma'am!"

"Guards!" Tashigi ordered without hesitation. "Please escort Petty Officer Campbell here to be flogged for insubordination!"

Campbell looked shocked. Tashigi was already stomping away to harass some other poor marine. The guards that came to escort Campbell away looked at the man with clear sympathy.

After a few seconds, the Petty Officer thought that the captain was a safe enough distance away, and made the worse mistake of his life.

"Wow…" He muttered under his breath, barely more than a whisper. "She's such a bitch. No wonder Zoro dumped her."

As soon as the words came out, the whole base froze. Everyone who heard them started to run for cover. Campbell looked confused, but then he realised that Tashigi had stopped suddenly moving.

There had been many poor men over the years that had learnt, much to their misfortune, that Tashigi had very good hearing for things whispered behind her back.

The Petty Officer didn't even have time to look scared. With a flash of movement, Tashigi was instantly standing behind him, and sheathing her sword slowly.

Petty Officer Campbell's severed head bounced off the ground in the silent courtyard.

Nobody dared to make a sound.

"Let me make this clear…" Tashigi muttered finally, her voice thick with poison and her hands trembling with rage. "…I was NOT dumped by Roronoa Zoro. I. Broke. Up. With. Him!"


Mihawk blinked several times. "So let me get this straight…" he said finally. "Captain Tashigi was dumped by Roronoa Zoro?"

Ando nodded. "Yep. She got totally and utterly dumped."

"Although I hear it's not safe to say that around her," Dwayne noted nervously.

"That's not very nice," Kimiko scowled. "I hear it was a lot more complicated than that. They were just two star-crossed lovers in a tragic tale…"

Mihawk frowned. Dwayne looked around hesitantly, "You see, the relationship really didn't go well," he explained. "Tashigi was a Marine, Zoro was a pirate. It was fine when no one knew about it, but as soon as the rumours started to spread it went really bad for Tashigi.

"She used to be the favourite student of the current Admiral. She was on the fast track for promotion, but then the whole affair slandered her so much that her career was dead in the water," Dwayne recalled. "It was a bad for the Marines for one of their officers to be in a relationship with an infamous pirate.

"Nothing was proven so there were never any official repercussions, but things still went badly for her. She was kicked out of headquarters, the Admiral disavowed her, her career stagnated, and then she was shipped off to this Marine base because no one important wanted her around. The bad press destroyed her and then, just when things were at their all-time low…"

"…Zoro dumped her," Ando finished. "It was brutal. She's still a bit bitter about it."

Kimiko looked at Ando darkly, but didn't respond. Mihawk was quiet, but interested. Everything he learned about Zoro's life gave him an extra edge to use against him…

Just then, there were suddenly thunderous footsteps echoing all around the café. Mihawk was instantly alert and ready, while the other patrons were looking around with a mixture of shock and annoyance.

"Oh no…" Dwayne growled. "Is it that time again…?"

In the plaza opposing them, a squadron of Marines emerged from an alley, panting as they marched very quickly through the town. Around him, Mihawk could hear the distinctive footsteps of other Marines, marching through the town.

"What's happening?" The swordsman demanded sharply. The other patrons in the café were already filing away, while the owner was reluctantly putting up a 'closed' sign across the window.

"Curfew has been declared," Ando replied with exasperation. "It happens occasionally. All shops have to shut – all citizens have to return to their houses, all traders to their ships. The town is on lockdown."

The rest of the fan club was itching to move. The marines were still stomping through the town ominously.

Mihawk scowled. "But why?"

Dwayne just shrugged. "No idea. Captain Tashigi just declares it whenever she feels like it."

"She must be in a bad mood," Ando mused thoughtfully. "It's really weird how it seems to happen every month…"

Kimiko blushed but didn't say anything.

Mihawk was fidgeting now, gripping his blade tightly he looked at the soldiers filing through the town critically.

"It's no problem," Dwayne soothed nervously. "It just means that Marines will lock up anyone who's drunk or disorderly tonight."

That caused Mihawk to pause. His face paled as he thought about his captain. "Drunk or disorderly?" He muttered with frustration. "Oh… I have a bad feeling about this."

Without warning, the swordsman suddenly set of at a run through the town, leaving a bemused and afraid fan club in his wake.


On the other side of town, in an alley outside the bar, Alvida placed her hands on her hips as she stared at the unconscious Doflamingo lying on the dirty ground in front of her. It had been a very easy 'capture'. As a matter of fact, Alvida was slightly annoyed at how easy it had been.

On one hand, she, along with Cabaji and Mohji, had been arrived in Loguetown to kill two rookies, fifty percent of whom were currently unconscious in front of her. Perhaps the sensible thing would just be to kill this one while he slept and be done with it…

On the other hand, Alvida really didn't like Cabaji and Mohji. She never had, especially when they had been on the same boat together. She was here to observe them as they killed the two rookies, so Alvida was peeved at ending up doing half of their work for them.

Also, Alvida had snapped a nail as she carried Doflamingo out of the bar, and that just always put her in a bad mood.

"Hmm…" She mused, scratching her chin thoughtfully. "What am I going to do with you…?"

She really didn't like Cabaji or Mohji. She hated Cabaji's stupid face and she hated all that grease that he dowsed over his hair. She hated all the fleas that Mohji got everywhere and she especially hated that he never cleaned up after his lion…

It was a vague insult to even be on the same crew as them, even if they were on the other side of the world. If Buggy himself hadn't given her this order, then Alvida would have refused to come. Instead, she was stuck here and forced to watch over the pair of losers…

Actually, Alvida herself had no obligation to help the two of them.

Actually, Alvida thought with an evil smile, I have no obligation to even make it easy for the two of them

Around her, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the air. A crier was already marching down the streets, declaring that curfew was now in effect. Alvida glanced at a squad of marines that were marching passed. Alvida smirked, before faking a high-pitch squeal.

The marines reacted quickly. Men tended to react very quickly indeed when a beautiful women was screaming.

"Ma'am!" One of the marine panted, rushing over to her. For all his apparent professionalism, his eyes were focused firmly on Alvida's breasts. Alvida pretended not to notice. "What seems to be the problem?"

Alvida put her hands to her cheeks, resisting the temptation to roll her eyes. "Thank heavens you're here, officer!" Alvida gushed with sweetness. She pointed at the unconscious Doflamingo. "This drunken buffoon assaulted me! I barely managed to fend him off! I shudder to think what he would have done…"

Doflamingo was currently passed out, filthy and stinking of booze. Alvida was beautiful and wearing expensive, well-fitting clothing. It didn't even cross the marine's mind to doubt her. He saluted sharply, before ordering his men to restrain the prisoner.

Alvida couldn't resist the smirk as Doflamingo was thrown into iron cuffs and dragged away. The pirate was so drunk he didn't even stir as he was manhandled roughly.

"It's alright, ma'am!" The marine saluted again. Apparently, this marine thought that Alvida's eyes were on her chest. "That fiend will never bother you again!"

"Well, thank goodness for that!" Alvida simpered, wondering vaguely if she was putting it on too thick. The marine didn't seem to care, and he was standing and grinning like he was a triumphant hero. Alvida added, sweetly, "Make sure that you lock him up in a cell, will you?"

He nodded, eagerly. Alvida smiled. "Actually…" She continued. "Make sure that you lock him up in the deepest, most secure, cell available…"


Bartholomew Kuma sighed as he stomped down to a deserted part of a town, and found a nice, cosy bridge to rest under for the night. The clouds were swirling ominously, and he really wanted to get some shelter.

It had been a very bad day. Kuma was lost, hungry, cold and tired. People had thrown things at him, insulted him, and generally been very, very mean. He didn't like this town, wherever it was. Kuma was so depressed that just dropped to the ground, and tried to snuggle up against a pile of rubbish.

At least it was nearly dark now, he thought miserably, and so my bad day is over. He would have a nice sleep, and then everything would be better in the morning…

"Oi, you!" A sharp voice called shrilly, followed by a high-pitched whistle. "Curfew is in effect!"

At once, Kuma's eyes shot open. He jumped to his feet (as quickly as his bulk could manage) and turned to stare at a squad of marines that were marching towards him.

"Awwww… no!" Kuma groaned loudly, rubbing his tired eyes and just wishing that it was over.

There were two blasts of the whistles, while the marines were charging closer. "Vagrancy is a crime!" One of the m declared, obviously sizing Kuma up. "All beggars are going in a cell for the night! Get him!"

"Eek!" Kuma squealed, quickly pulling his rucksack over his shoulders. He started running away, before stopping and trying to decide where he should.

Then, the marines were right behind him, and Kuma very quickly decided that anywhere was better than staying here.

Kuma lumbered down the road, his sandals hitting off the cobbles heavily, while the marines gave chase.


Crocodile frowned as he heard the footsteps and announcement that curfew had been established. It was bad timing, but it didn't matter. He was nearly at his destination. He was a bit concerned about his 'crewmates', but there was nothing he could do. Even if they were arrested for being out after curfew, the Marines would have to let them go in the morning. Neither of them had a bounty, so it would be fine.

As long the pair didn't try to do something stupid, like fight back against the Marines, there wouldn't be a problem.

Crocodile darted down the dark alleys, sticking to the shadows as the Marines marched past. He was in a dark side of town, filled with seedy shops and suspicious businesses. The Marines were coming down heavy, but everyone had already holed up for the night.

Still, Crocodile had an uneasy feeling in his gut as he approached his destination. He needed information about the current state of affairs in the Grand Line, and he had been out of touch recently. It would be suicide to try something without being properly prepared, so he had to come here. There weren't many information contacts that weren't directly related to the Syndicate, so Crocodile never had much choice.

Yet Crocodile just really, really, did not like this man. He was useful, and so Crocodile accepted him, but there was no friendship or even respect between the two of them. Crocodile thought the man was slimy, suspicious, and greedy.

Also, this man was too smart, verging on actually being clever. Crocodile didn't like it when anyone besides himself was clever; it made him feel like they were cheating.

He finally reached the shop, which mostly acting as a cover business for the owner's information broking. There was a creaky sign hanging over the rundown front, proclaiming 'The Candle Maker'.

Crocodile went straight to the backdoor and let himself in without knocking. Inside, it was dark, gloomy and smelled strongly of wax.

"You here?" Crocodile called out into the darkness.

A small flame burst into life as one of the many candles was light. In the corner of the room, Galdino grinned as he straightened his glasses. "Well, well, well…" The candle maker muttered, taking a sip of tea. "Long time no see, Crocodile… It looks like you need my help…"


When Doflamingo finally awoke, he was in a dark, very cramped cell. The only light was the flickering torches from the town, shining through a narrow slit of a window.

He was also still very drunk, so there may or may not have been pink flamingos flying around him.

With a groan, he pulled himself up and stared out of the window.

He was in the Marine base, in a cell on one of the upper floors and capable of staring out over the town. It was dark and it took him a long time to focus, but eventually he could make out the outlines of the buildings, and the movement as the marines marched through the streets.

Gradually, he looked upwards, where there were dark clouds swirling ominously. It looked like there was a miniature hurricane forming over the town. There was a strange storm brewing...

"Huh…" Doflamingo slurred finally, struggling to think clearly through his drunken haze. "That doesn't look nice…"


Author Notes

First introduction of Tashigi, and I'm sorry if I've changed her personality too much. Her entire career was ruined after her relationship with Zoro, and she's been dealing with the rumours ever since for ten years. She's understandably a bit angry about it…

Also, the Roronoa Zoro fan club are all OCs, of course, but they're going to be in the background. They'll be recurring characters for a while, but nothing major.

Next chapter: Everything explodes (quite literally) – "Let's Start a Riot!"