Floor 29, room M9, aisle of shelf 56
Tashigi POV:
I stare at the canvas drawstring bag sitting on the shelf in front of me, several items all glowing with the presence of a woman I haven't seen in 4 years inside the cloth. This placement, these extra things that used to be hers- it's too purposeful. What if someone changed the description in the index? What if all of these are wrong? No, it's the right thing. It has to be! Please... I shake my head clear, deactivating my Haki and I reach for the bag with urgent expectation. Pulling open the top, I look down to see several aged books, a poorly made dagger, and a log pose. Seeing the top of the glass ball, my gut twists in a way that just feels, right.
"Finally," I whisper, for once not caring that tears are streaming down my cheeks again as my heart practically bursts with hope. "I'm coming guys, I'm coming." Snaking my hand in I grab the log pose and pull it out, eyes wide as I place the bag back on the shelf and hold the pose in both hands- the little glass ball seamlessly melded into a 6 inch wood cube. The mahogany wood has a beautiful, shining finish, with two small swords burned into the surface towards the top, under the words "The Greatest Challenge- Sword". Eager, I read the inscription underneath the bold declaration.
"First the horde
then that which cannot be cut
defeat that which lies within
to become The Greatest
.
Forget the future
the past invisible
only the moment matters
to become The Greatest
.
Dedication rewarded
stand on continued accomplishment
not this single achievement
to become The Greatest"
I re-read the words, my forehead bunched together in consternation as I try to link the words to some magical medicine that will save everyone from some doctor hellbent on their death. "Whaaaa?" I mumble under my breath as I reach for the bag again and turn the books to read their titles.
"10 sword styles to change the world, Sword Styles, Captain's Log Kajiya- wait." I mutter, picking the log pose back up and glancing between it and the books. "Maybe- the books have info on how to decode or use the log pose?" I pause, and give the canvas bag a suspicious look. Okay what the actual heck. I spend a month trying to get into this place and once I find what I'm looking for I get the full package? "Oooh why can't this ever just be simple!" I groan, before contemplating the navigational tool. "Clearly it has a destination, which means I'll need to find another ride."
"So you are working with the Straw Hats."
"AAEEHK!" I shriek at the voice, jumping and spinning to face Commander Eiji, his imposing figure blocking light from the middle of the room as he stands at the start of the shelf aisle. My hand immediately goes to Shigure's hilt, the bag dropped and forgotten, blood chilled, vision fogged with panic.
There are no more sirens.
I take a step back, then another as I glance from side to side. How many reinforcements? Escape? The shelves reach all the way to the wall so no way out but forward. How did he-
"Impressive, really. A woman of your reputation willingly working with the most hated pirates of this generation, maybe of all time?" He clicks his tongue in disappointment, and I feel my shoulders tense then slump as I realize we're the only two people in the room. He came alone, which means... "My, my Captain Tashigi. You must have been desperate."
My eyes flash back to the commander, his stone gaze making my heart pound in terror.
He knows.
Crap.
Blood still chilled, I force myself to stare back, and I realize his eyes don't hold secrets anymore.
"You knew." I mutter to myself, before speaking louder. "You know that there's innocent people dying, and you, helped? To ensure their death?" Any fear I felt before melts away in livid terror as bitter clarity sets in. My own navy flipped me off and said to hell with justice. My jaw clenches down, bravery filling every cell in my body as I stand straight and frown back at Commander Eiji's now grinning face.
"No one is innocent captain."
The words rile me, and I open my mouth ready to bite back, before pausing. I can very clearly see killing intent rolling off him in waves. No one else is here though, which means my death wouldn't make sense to average soldiers. Which probably means he's the only one aware of all the circumstances. Jaw clenched, I try to make a list of what I want from him- because I sure as hell won't lay down and die. I glance down at the log pose in my hand, realizing what I need. I suddenly lift the log pose out in front of me, watching closely as Commander Eiji's eyes go wide for a moment with recognition before they settle into desperate determination.
"You didn't want me to have this, did you?" I snarl, before quickly bending down to grab the bag with the other items and stuffing the log pose inside, swinging the bag onto my back all in one fluid motion. Eiji steps forward at my movement, but doesn't fully advance. I make a "tsk" with my tongue as I glance around again, trying to see how I can get out of the cramped space of the 4 foot wide aisle. Although, maybe limited movement is to my advantage? I'm excellent with Shigure in tight spots, and the commander would be handicapped with his size. I glance back at the Commander, who's back to grinning as he shakes his head.
"This act of treason is enough to condemn any hometown." He croons, and my bitter clarity dissolves into rage at the threat to my already suffering village. All he has left to give me is answers.
"THEY BROKE NO LAWS!" I shout, my voice strangely loud with no sirens to compete with. "They did nothing to deserve this! It's the Navy's job to protect people! To provide stability!"
"Do not lecture me on the purpose of the Navy b****." Eiji growls, taking another step forward which prompts me to step back. Base commanders always have skill to match their position. "I'm the commander of the Rieno Base, I know our reasons."
"And what are those reasons?! You protect the global currency!" I frantically start listing everything Rieno does for the world, sincerely desperate to know how people can possibly defend such evil actions. "You keep dangerous criminals from harming anyone else! Surely-"
"Call it greater good." Eiji cuts me off, then reaches for a sword at his side, the weapon massive in even his large hands. I swallow, almost overwhelmed by the bloodlust rolling off the man. He was very clearly done with this conversation. He continues to advance, his voice dropping to a growl. "The people of Haomzen will sacrifice themselves as guineapigs for biological warfare, and countless other islands will have a new means to protect themselves."
The words are a slap to the face, no matter how much I expected something like them,
They..
"What?" I whisper, voice hoarse, raw.
Eiji snorts. "You heard me the first time b****. They'll die for the greater good, I get an extra paycheck and an inroad to the big leagues for my brave efforts to protect the world. I started as a street rat," Eiji's eyes are dark and crazed simultaneously as he lifts his sword over his head, it's blade as long as I am as it cuts into the ceiling. "but I'll get to the place where no one can tell me no."
His sword swings down in his left hand, and I stare at the descending blade, all his words still ringing in my ear. The world looks white, except for the silver blade 4 feet above me. 3 feet. 2 fee
I throw myself to the side at the last second, my shoulder slamming against a shelf and my thoughts calm.
My lungs expand, shrink, expand.
I see every dust particle in the room, the atoms dancing together under incandescent light.
Eiji's sword is lodged in the wall. He's trying to get it out.
Large, well made. Fitting for a commander.
Rubble falls from the hole he created in the ceiling earlier.
I can feel plaster dust coating my hair, making it white.
Maybe I look like Grandma. But much more petite.
No, no.
I want to look like an angel of death.
A little girl smiles for a picture. She doesn't know its the only photo that will be taken of her in life. That her name will grace the front page of the world news. That she will die soon.
SHING
I pull Shigure from the sheath, the world still slow, and rush forward, blade ready to thrust into Eiji's chest. His heart. I have to hit his heart to slow him down.
CLANG
A dagger deflects the blow, my thrusting strike piercing Eiji's upper bicep instead. He screams.
The large sword comes loose
Shigure still caught in his flesh, I jump from the ground, using her hilt to launch myself over Eiji as I pull the blade back and up, almost slicing off his arm before I have to pull Shigure out completely as Eiji tries to turn around. I land in a crouch, quick to shoot myself backward as the large sword comes crashing down again.
"Don't you know anything besides a downward slice?" I taunt, standing straight and rushing forward again.
"B****!" He screeches
Our blades clash together, sending vibrations down to my heels as I block against his full strength.
"Nothing more creative to call me?" I grit through my teeth. Damn he's got power. I guess towering at almost 7 feet does give him some advantages in delivering bone shattering blows.
I disconnect our blades and step to the side, swinging Shigure towards his throat which he easily blocks again.
I guess I'm not gonna get another easy hit in.
Our blades continue to crash against each other as we attack over and over. I stay on the offensive while still in the aisle, but slowly he pushes us towards the center of the room, and I curse at myself once we're out in the open and he can swing his blade more freely. The fact I couldn't take him even when the space was on my side-
"You fancy yourself a sword fighter wench? I could beat you in my sleep." Eiji cackles, like he read my mind. I frown at the accusation, before conceding several more feet as he comes in with a ferocious onslaught, each strike shaking me to the core as I block and side step, dodge and then let the last hit glance off my blade before shooting inside his defenses, sending Shigure down in a destructive arc as I slash through his other bicep.
I glance at Shigure for a second, concern etched in my face as I search for chips and marks. Prolonged fights are never good for either party's blade. I need to end this, for my beloved swords sake and the chance of escape!
Eiji hisses at the new wound as he jumps back, raising a leg to kick me out of his proximity, his heel landing proper in my gut and sending me flying. I slam into a bookshelf but waste no time in standing back up and rushing forward, knowing my best chance is to keep getting in close past his obnoxiously large blade which creates an equally obnoxiously large offensive reach.
I get past another onslaught, but this time when I dive under a swing and try to slice at his legs, he quickly changes his blades momentum and thrusts it down towards me. I barely have time to roll out of the way, the downward blade slicing a few inches into my side.
I stifle a shriek of pain as I roll to a stop at Eiji's feet, not waiting a second before jumping back up. I grab the collar of his shirt as he tries to step away from me, and I drop Shirugre as I grab the dagger still clutched in his right arm, wrenching it from his grasp and spinning it in my hand till I slam it in his chest, the blade sinking in until I stop it an inch from his heart.
Eiji gasps at the pain, his sword hand freezing as he stares at me, eyes wide with pain and desperation, knowing I hold his life in his hands.
Because he can't die. If I kill him, no one else will hear his admissions in the future. I will have no chance to prove my actions.
I glare back, my eyes boring hatred into the man as my breathing slowly becomes labored. "You're pathetic." I whisper hoarsely. Eiji, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, sneers at the accusation.
"I just know the times." Eiji coughs, before lifting almost lazy eyes to glare at me again. "C'mon pretty thing, any other burning questions on your heart I can answer?"
The bag still hanging on my back weighs heavy. Several seconds pass, before I growl and start walking forward, forcing Eiji to walk backwards. I glance behind him for a fleeting moment, searching for something that could be used to knock him out. I need to go. The Straw Hats won't wait forever, and I have a new mission already charted.
THWAP!
"What the-!" I shout, jumping back as Eiji's eyes roll to the back of his head and the huge commander slumps to the ground. Standing right behind him is Zoro, sliding Kitetsu back into its sheath.
I stare at the green-haired swordsman, my heart jumping out of rhythm for a second as his grey eyes rise to meet my gaze, his scowl lifting into a slight smirk for a moment as he stares back.
A second passes
Then Zoro drops his eyes to look down at Eiji.
"You were gonna knock him out, right?" he asks, nodding at the body lying between us.
I look down at Eiji, then back at Zoro and nod. Adrenaline in my body slows down, recognizing the fight is over.
"Sorry if I stole a victory moment, but you already beat him and we gotta hurry." He comments.
Did I want to be the one who delivered the final blow? My thoughts slowly slide back into their normal tempo instead of battle swiftness. No, the contents of this bag are what matter most. I, I'll have to think about saving the Navy later.
"It's fine." I say, wincing as I shift my weight a bit. This side cut might leave a mark.
Zoro nods and steps over the body so he's standing next to me, eyeing the wound in my side before starting to walk towards... I'm not sure where he's trying to walk. There is no exit in that direction.
"heh." I snicker at the thought, and Zoro turns to give me a glare, before he looks at the blood dripping down my side with a bit more concern, then back at me, grey eyes soft.
"Are-"
"I'm glad you're here." I state, raising my hands to lace my thumbs through the straps of the drawstring bag on my back.
and I stand there in a quaint pool of my own blood, oblivious as his whole body turns back towards me, just relishing the simple honesty of the statement, smiling faintly.
My whole world might be crash burning but at least he's still a directionless idiot who chases goals with every fiber in his being and has the honor to apologize for taking a victory strike he didn't earn.
Zoro blinks at the words, his eyes still soft for a second staring at me, the corner of his mouth tilting up slightly, before eyes go wide and his whole face turns into a scowling storm of defense.
"Didn't think you lost that much blood, saying stupid stuff like that." He growls and in a moment is standing in front of me, grabbing my arm with gentle firmness as I suddenly stagger to the side from a spasm of pain. "The only reason I'm here is cause you tricked me into doing this stupid plan."
My brain freezes at his nearness. I blink. What am I saying? What am I thinking! I look up, red splashing onto my cheeks my brain kicks back into gear.
"Right! Umm, yeah. blood. I've still got plenty of it." I stammer, pulling my arm from him as I start walking towards the nearest exit, rubbing my forehead. "S-s-sorry you feel tricked, but lets just try to get out of here now. What I meant to say earlier was, ah, I'm glad you found me so I didn't have to go search for your sorry lost self."
Nice save, Tashigi. See? Everything's gonna be fine.
My hands tighten around the bag straps and I grit my teeth as I start working out the fastest way to get out.