I do not own One Piece.

I'll probably do some moments during Marineford and Punk Hazard later on, if I come across a word that sparks inspiration.

Prompt: Sparring
Length: 1433

Of Swords and Jittes

Learning combat was the crux of the Academy's training. Almost everything in the program was built around boot camps, harsh workout regimes and varying martial arts. Since Tashigi specialized in sword fighting, she was grouped with her fellow swordsman to hone her skills. Multiple times a week they would pair off not only with each other but with Marines who mastered in other forms of weaponry to spar.

Tashigi had been pretty confident in her fighting abilities as she graduated amongst the top of her class. It was no easy feat making it through the Academy and she had been sure she would be able to go toe-to-toe with any adversary that stumbled in her path.

A foolish, naïve thought of a fresh recruit, which she realized rather quickly after she was assigned to be Smoker's partner.

Sweat causing her grey sweat pants and pale green T-shirt to stick her body, Tashigi tried to control her breathing as she ducked and weaved. She swung her sword to defend against Smoker's jitte, a metal clanging reverberating throughout the small, concrete-walled training room. She took a few steps back to create space and then lunged, aiming her sword for Smoker's stomach. She stumbled forwards when his torso turned to smoke, allowing the man to take advantage of her uneven footing and flip her to the ground.

Tashigi let out a yelp when the back of her head collided with the floor, stars appearing in her vision for a brief moment. The seventeen-year-old wearily sat up and grabbed her katana, which had clattered by her side.

"Again," she said determinedly, getting to her feet.

Smoker, who had barely broken a sweat compared to Tashigi, scoffed. "Why do you bother? The outcome will be the same."

Tashigi gripped the hilt of her sword. "I'll defeat you this time."

He regarded her for a moment. Her eyes glinted with steely resolve, despite her exhaustion and numerous failures. Her heart and spirit were in the right place, but she was missing the vital lesson. As it was clear she would not learn it tonight, Smoker shook his head.

"That's enough, Tashigi."

Attaching his jitte to his hip, Smoker started for the door. Tashigi stood in place, hands trembling with agitation and disappointment. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she asked, "May we spar again tomorrow, Captain Smoker?"

He paused in the doorframe, glancing over his shoulder. "If you manage to figure out what you're doing wrong," he returned coolly before departing fully.

With a harsh breath, Tashigi lowered to the ground, brow furrowing. "Why can't I land a strike?" she muttered aloud, resting her chin in her hands. In the sparring sessions she had with the members of their squadron, she came out victorious every time. When she went up against drunken street thugs and looting pirates, she beat them with little effort. So why was she having so much trouble going up against Smoker?

"A jitte and a sword aren't so different," she mused with a frown.

No, but you've only ever gone up against a jitte when a regular Marine was using it. You've never fought against someone with Devil Fruit powers.

Tashigi stared at her sword, expression thoughtful. Not much was known about Devil Fruits or their abilities, and the subject material was only touched upon at the Academy. She never really needed to figure out how to fight an opponent with supernatural abilities.

Looks like you're going to have to learn. Captain Smoker isn't the only one with powers.

"What else can I do?" she groaned. "I've done everything by the book."

The words she uttered reached her ears and her eyes widened as she came to a realization. She had studied combat techniques for years. She knew all the regulations when it came to Marine combat, just like the Academy had taught her.

But the Academy never taught her how to deal with an opponent with Devil Fruit abilities. Regular fighting strategies wouldn't work. It was time to start thinking outside of the box.

…

When Smoker arrived in the training room early the next morning, he was not surprised to see Tashigi already waiting for him. Crossing his arms over his chest, he asked, "Before I waste my time, have you figured out your mistake?"

Tashigi nodded. "I have."

"Hmm. I guess we'll see."

The pair unsheathed their respective weapons and squared off. After an intense stare-down, they started to spar, sword and jitte slamming against one another. For a while Tashigi merely defended, waiting for her first opportunity. She took the chance when Smoker executed an overhead strike, raising her sword to cut off the attack and dropping down to the floor. She lifted one foot to kick him in the stomach, causing him to hunch over slightly.

She tried to push him off balance further by pushing the jitte with her sword towards the side, but Smoker suddenly turned into smoke. Tashigi immediately rolled and got to her feet, spinning on her heel as he reformed a distance away. Smoker transformed his arm into smoke and his hand shot towards her. She avoided the punch and charged forwards, aiming her sword at his stomach. At the last second she changed direction so it would strike his cheek.

The man caught the movement in the nick of time and the tip of the blade passed through his smoky cheek. Tashigi grimaced as Smoker caught her in a choke hold, muscular arms tightening around her neck. He hooked his jitte under the hilt of her katana and twisted, forcing her to drop it.

Taking a quick breath, Tashigi reared her head backwards, slamming it against Smoker's chin. He swore and his grip loosened slightly, giving her enough space to drop down and stick out her foot, dragging her sword towards her. She flipped it into her hand and curved the hilt behind Smoker's ankle, using her body weight to force them both to the ground.

Smoker evaporated into smoke and drifted out from behind her. Tashigi caught herself before she hit the floor completely and stood. She ducked to avoid the blow from the jitte and spun around so that he was in front of her. She jumped onto his back, pressing her blade against his neck. As he started to transform, she suddenly leapt forwards, seizing hold of the jitte. She swung her body to the floor, using the momentum to twist the jitte out of his hands. Spinning on her heel she lunged forwards, sticking the tip into the smoke.

Immediately Smoker regained his solid form, dropping to his knees with a grunt. His energy rapidly depleted and it took a great effort for him to lift his head. Tashigi knelt before him, the Seastone lodged in the tip of his jitte pressed against his neck. She was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her flushed face and a triumphant glint in her eyes. She lowered the jitte so it was no longer in contact with Smoker's flesh and sunk to the ground.

"Was that better?" she asked breathlessly, expression hopeful.

Smoker rocked back on his heels, idly rubbing the bruise developing on his chin. A smirk curled across his features and he said, "Much better. For a moment, I thought you were just screwing around, doing the exact same routine as before."

"Well, I couldn't make it obvious that I was planning to take your weapon," reasoned Tashigi. "I had to create an opportunity."

"You realize the Academy is strongly against headbutting your enemy," drawled Smoker.

Tashigi smiled sheepishly, gingerly prodding the bump that was on the back of her head. "Yes. But you can't do everything by the book—not even in the Marines. Sometimes you have to get creative, even a little impulsive."

Satisfied that she had gotten the point and fixed her mistakes, Smoker stood, strapping his jitte to his back. "Now it's up to you to find the balance."

"Hai." Tashigi fell into step beside Smoker as they exited the training room. "Do you think we could spar some more later?" she added hesitantly.

"Ah. There's another fighting method you're going to need to adjust to."

"What would that be, Captain Smoker?"

Smoker lazily reached out plucked Tashigi's glasses from her face, causing her to stumble to a halt as the world morphed into a blurred mess. She let out a yelp and instinctively held out her arms to see if she would bump into anything.

"That's unfair!"

"So's life. Better hone those ears, because the next time we spar you're doing it without the glasses."