This is the last chapter.
I do not own One Piece.
Final part: My justice
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Tashigi stretched to get rid of the rigor in the back and neck. Her sleep was restless, with frightful dreams, resulting in a dull headache. When she left the sick bay, the sky was painted with the various hues of the morning sun.
It was her second week on board the pirate ship, Thousand Sunny.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she mused about how a pirate crew had grown on her. She missed Smoker and the men and some of the routines she performed during the years of service.
But her priority had not changed. She decided to stay by his side until he recovered.
When they escaped the death trap, Zoro collapsed. Admittedly, he resembled a pincushion; glass and unknown things were sticking out of him, and he sustained superficial burns on his arms and chest. Her worst fear came true; he succumbed to the drug.
While she waited for Smoker to come, she prayed that he doesn't turn into dust.
After explaining everything and boarding the survivors and the scientists onto the marine ship, she turned in her resignation.
Smoker refused it straight away.
He asked her what she was planning on doing, and all she could manage to utter was to save Roronoa somehow.
"Tashigi. We've been through a lot of shit together."
The secondhand cigar smoke caused a strange comfort.
"Tell me, have I ever failed you as your superior?"
"No... Never!"
"Then why? Why would you not let me get involved?!"
"You're a vice-admiral! You can't dirty your hands with my private life!"
"Dirty my hands with your private life." He grunted. "Did you forget about Punk Hazard?"
"I didn't know I would stumble into this. But even then-"
"Damn it, Tashigi! I thought we were partners!"
He pulled the cigars from his mouth. Violently, he hurled the gnawed, soggy stumps.
"This burden... I wish you had shared it with me and not with a pirate."
He wiped the pieces of pulpy tobacco off his mouth.
"Smoker-san. If you were in my shoes you would do the same. You always try to protect me and our men. I've got to learn how to get through my fights by myself."
"So now you're bailing on me? On our promise?"
"I'm not the same person I was. I'm not sure if I can...Sorry. It's not fair . "
"You will survive. I know you will. You went through hell and are still standing. I call that a success. Take some time off, Captain. And come back. I cannot fight by myself. Don't let me down." He pulled out her spare eyeglasses from the inner pocket of his jacket.
Her upper lip quivered, as she accepted it.
"Yes, Smoker-san!"
Neither their ship's doctor nor the scientists knew how to cure him, but they provided her with the reports and drug.
The only one she could think of was the Straw Hats' doctor, Chopper. She had seen his exceptional work at Punk Hazard with children.
But how to reach him quickly? Without wasting valuable time?
Things were finally starting to go her way once G-5 men recovered the funny-looking, shark submarine. In it, she contacted the Straw Hats, summarizing the situation. They told her about the vivre card, which she found in his haramaki.
With one last glance, she said goodbye to Smoker and G-5. Some of the men cried but were immediately scolded by Smoker. Sometimes, justice was about achieving small victories. The island will no longer take lives.
Straw Hats met her halfway, Cyborg assisting Black leg to carry out the unconscious Roronoa to the sick bay.
She begged Straw Hat for permission to stay on their ship and sail with them until he recovered.
No one objected.
Straw Hats' doctor spent days working on ways to counteract the drug. So far, he slowed down the effects and Zoro was out of danger from disintegrating.
But, he did not wake up.
What if he never wakes up?
No. I can't think like that. He's strong. He WILL wake up.
She sensed the presence of another person behind her.
"Up already, Tashigi-chan?"
"Ah... Yes, Black l- Sanji-san."
"It's cold in the morning." He draped a blanket around her shoulders. "Come to the kitchen in a bit. I'll make coffee as well."
"Thank you."
"Anything for a pretty lady. And Tashigi-chan..." He took a long drag on his cigarette.
"Yes?"
"That bastard is too stubborn to die. I hate seeing your beautiful face saddened by the Moss idiot. You should choose me instead-"
"Thank you." She cut through his usual flirty routine, feeling the warmth behind his words. Which was weird. Not so long ago, she was freaked out by his behavior.
As the Straw Hats' cook walked towards the kitchen, a hum of violin followed. The tune was different from the usual, cheery ones he played in the morning. It began simply but resonated within her deeply.
A sorrowful tune paid respect to the loved ones that left this world, bringing her to tears.
Ko... I hope you found peace, wherever you are. I will never forget you, my friend.
"Tashigi-san?" Skeleton called her.
She rubbed her eyes, looking his way.
It was still a challenge to get used to his appearance and his constant begging to show him her panties, but like everyone in this crew, he was as kind as he was peculiar.
"Good morning, Brook-san. That song... was sad and beautiful."
"I'm glad you think so. I've worked myself to the bone to compose it. Yohohohoho!"
"How does one recover from grief?"
"Sadly, one does not. It alters your life forever. But, it doesn't doom you to a life of despair. The pain dulls over time, we meet new people, but the hole... it never closes. Grief gets integrated into our lives and changes how we see the world. People we cared about continue to live in our hearts, although I have no heart! Yohohohoho!"
"I see..."
"Tashigi-san. Zoro-san will wake up. Don't worry."
"All right. No more crying."
"That's the spirit. Um, may I ask you to..."
"Yes?"
"...Show me your panties?"
"You ruined the moment, perverted skeleton!"
Before she could reply, Nami kicked him away.
The second week had slowly passed with no change in Zoro's condition.
Tashigi postponed confiding in Straw Hats as long as she could, but she had too many pent-up emotions, and frankly, she felt like she could trust them from the bottom of her heart. Plus, whenever they asked her some intimate question, Sanji would come to her defense, comparing her to food.
That evening, she was compared to mussels.
"... even if you put them in boiling water, not all of them will pop open instantly. You have to be patient and wait for a bit, but there is also a possibility that they will never open."
When he wasn't drooling around women, he had clever things to say. But she had enough of the food analogy.
She came clean about things that bothered her the most, revealing what happened with Ko and even how she felt towards their crewmate.
Truthfully, she needed a bit of liquid courage for that confession, but it's not like they didn't know already.
It was sweet and bizarre how a bunch of the most feared pirates in the world tried to console her and encourage her, even Straw Hat who was still a mystery to her.
The following day, she caught him in the nick of time, right when he was about to fall into the sea just because he saw "something tasty."
The rest of the crew were rather indifferent about it, telling her that it happens at least twice a week.
Chopper was close to finishing the cure. She decided to stay out of his way, bringing him sweets whenever she could. Because he was adorable.
As for Zoro, he wiggled his brow that afternoon, and in the morning she could swear he frowned when she touched his swords.
"Tashigi-san, what are you gonna do after Zoro wakes up?" Usopp asked her while everyone was out on the deck, enjoying the sunny day. The undisputable faith everyone had in Zoro was enviable.
She sat on the swing, gawking at her palms.
"I honestly don't know." She sighed.
"Smoker-san said I should take some time off to think about it. But I can't be the same Tashigi I was. Not after what happened to Ko. It took me a long time to come to terms with the truth about this world. I don't know if I can-"
"Stop." Nami interrupted. "Enough with the gloomy stuff, Tashigi-chan."
She took her by the hand, hauling her to where she and Robin were sunbathing.
"Nami-san, what-"
"My mom was a marine. She was the bravest woman I knew, and the best mother to me and my sister.
She probably saw similar things you did, maybe even worse. But the look in her eyes... That unyielding fire that burns even brighter when faced with fear, impossibilities, death... I saw the same fire in your eyes that day when you asked me to take the children. You are a strong, marine woman just like my mom. Innocent people and children will need you. So no matter what, you have to remember that you do it cause of them."
"Nami-san..." Her words had dried up her tears as if purifying her soul. For the first time in months, she had a clearer image of what her goal was supposed to be.
"There! Now no more whining! Zoro is just resting and he will be up and running in no time! I know that! He's a stubborn idiot."
Tashigi smiled faintly at the orange-haired woman.
"I'm familiar with the good and the bad side of the Navy, too," Robin said, putting her book down.
"They destroyed my life, but one person saved me and gave me hope to continue despite the cruel hands of fate. He was also a marine. You can be that person to someone."
With nothing else to add, she picked her book again, returning to reading.
It was indeed a strange world, where enemies lifted you after allies brought you down.
The day after Chopper administered the finished medicine, had started as usual.
Sanji told her that he wouldn't mind her filling the spot of the crew's swordsman. He had just stepped out of the kitchen and was leaning on the railing of the upper deck, while she was on the lawn deck. It wasn't the first time he joked about it, but what made this time memorable was the kick he received, nearly falling over the fence.
And no, it wasn't Nami. It was...
"Stop signing me off, asshole."
"Zoro!" Straw Hats exclaimed, gathering around their crewmate, and eventually, Straw Hat binding them together in a big hug.
The image in front of her pushed out the gruesome thoughts and memories that tormented her.
"Still not dead, Marimo? Such a shame."
"You wish, Shitty Cook. I ain't biting the dust yet."
Even when green and blond clashed, spitting insults and curses that startled her with their foulness, the moment wasn't ruined.
Her stomach soared, and she pinched her eyes shut.
He is back to his old self. Thank God. Her throat burned with unshed tears.
However, her endeavor to stay on the side did not go unnoticed.
The argument died abruptly, once Zoro met her eyes.
"H-Hi..." Her voice cracked, breaking into shards.
A second later, he jumped over the fence of the upper deck, landing on the grass, almost tackling her when he hugged her. She held on, squeezing her arms around his waist, hot tears tracing a warm path down her cheeks.
"I had to make sure you were real." He lifted her, squishing her against him.
"Eek!"
As he set her back on her feet, she stepped back and wiped away her tears.
"Welcome back."
Climbing to reach the Crow's nest was a risky task for someone deep in thoughts.
Nobody can get everything in life.
It echoed in her mind as she reached the top.
For him, it was as easy as breathing to get his priorities straight. As soon as he opened his eye and was able to stand, he was up here, training. Chopper's protests and threats were pointless, while the rest of the crew didn't even bother.
Although his mind functioned properly, his body couldn't. But that was hardly an obstacle in his way.
Tashigi observed as he lifted weights until his muscles bulged and probably ached, but still, he kept going. Day after day.
"Hey." She decided to interrupt him by handing him the towel.
"Hey." He tossed away the massive weights, floor shaking as they bounced with a dull thud. He wiped the sweat off his face, arms, and chest.
"So... Training, huh?" She didn't know how to begin.
"Want to join me?"
"No. I..."
"Why? Are you sore from yesterday?"
"I'm fine."
She wasn't. His monstrous training was not meant for her.
"So, what's up? Want to spend some time alone?" He teased.
"G-Get serious." She replied quickly.
"I'm serious." He grinned at her, noticing the swift glance that halted on his bare torso.
Tashigi cleared her throat. She behaved foolishly.
"Your crew... is admirable. These past few weeks were... Valuable. Enlightening."
"Hrm." He passed his hand over his brow.
She did not like beating around the bush, but it was difficult to get the words out.
What were the chances of meeting a man like him? Someone who inspired her to work harder and to see the world as it was? Someone she could love forever regardless of the different worlds they belonged to?
Slim to none, yet it befell her.
He was the man she shared both battlefield and bed with; a man who almost died in her arms, and vice versa. There was no doubt about his feelings for her, but a certain concern lived in the back of her mind.
Was love enough to keep them together?
The math seemed impossible.
I have a choice to make.
It was a beautiful dream... But she had to wake up.
"You're leaving." He broke the silence.
His words tore the composure she was striving to maintain.
"I am."
"What about us?"
"I thought about it a lot. About you and..."
During her stay on Sunny, it came to her repeatedly. The irony.
She branded Roronoa as her enemy as soon as she found out that he was a pirate. To defeat him, she had to understand what he thought, what he wanted, and what he believed in. Though she made more than a few bad judgments about him, she admired him as a warrior on a subconscious level. At some point, admiration transformed into love.
"...It's complicated, isn't it?"
"No. It's simple."
He caught her hands in his, stroking where the pulse was drumming.
"Did you miss me?"
"I missed you so much." She answered in one breath.
She wanted to kiss him, but something held her back all the time.
Perhaps it was the fear that if her lips were to touch his again, her resolve would waver.
As though he was able to read her thoughts, he arched toward her, kissing her closed mouth. He twined her arms around his neck, running the tip of his tongue over her lips until they parted. Warmth coursed through her, fusing with sweet relief.
He slowly slipped his tongue into her mouth, his hands looping around her waist.
She trembled more than the first time, welcoming the grip of his brawny arms, aware that it might be the last time to feel it.
Once again, she was outplayed by the strong emotions towards him. As the kiss intensified, growing more demanding, she felt herself sliding into the abyss.
Her fingers curled into his hair, savoring his taste, the sounds he produced as he kissed her, and the ache that he will be out of reach as long as she intended to pursue her justice and remain in the Navy.
They walked out of darkness and despair together.
Surely they could endure being apart.
He drew back to allow her to catch her breath, leading her to the bench. She settled beside him, leaning on his shoulder.
"You're going back to Smoker, huh?"
"Yeah, he's really stubborn. He doesn't want to let me go."
"I can see why. You're smart and brave, clumsy and need a lot of work on your skills-"
"Ahem." She rose, punching his upper arm.
"But... You saved me. I can still protect what's important to me."
"You saved me too."
"True." He put his arm around her shoulders. "More than once."
"Jerk."
"But what you did for me..."
"You wouldn't be there in the first place if it wasn't for me."
"It was my choice cause... I love you."
Her head jerked up at the unexpected confession.
"I... love you too." She buried her face into his chest, tightening the grip around him.
"You have to do what feels right." He whispered into her hair.
"The same goes for me. And that means going separate ways."
"Yes..." She slowly pulled away from him, her vision blurred with tears.
"There's a long way ahead of me. But one thing is clear. I want to protect innocent people."
He placed his hands on her shoulders, the crinkles of his smile looking more defined.
"You just do what it feels is right in your bones, in your gut." His gaze softened with affection.
"As long as you don't ignore it, you'll be fine and you'll never turn into Ko."
"Zoro... Thank you."
"No matter what sides we are on, we'll always have each other's back."
"If you find love, don't let it go, no matter what. That's the only thing that will keep you sane."
"Always." She repeated, kissing him.