Hi! Wow it feels weird to be back here nearly a decade later...wow. So I guess the best way to get back into the world of fanfics is by doing the series I know best...One Piece! I am very sorry for the long read here. Thank you for reading and I hope you'll stick around! One Piece belongs to Oda. OC centric sorta and rated M for stuffs.

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18 months ago. Before Zoro met Luffy. East Blue.

This day wasn't going as he expected. How could a single person be giving him so much trouble? Whoever they were, they were new. He's been on this stupid island for a month now, hired by a local gang to deal with their rivals. It was easy. Picking off the weak pawns that were sent out into his employer's territory. Except for today. This very night where the full moon was eerily bright, an adversary stood before him. A lithe figure wearing a white half mask that looked like a fox with wispy pale blue markings around the right eye. A soft smile was visible on their face as they twirled the blood-stained spear in their hand.

Roronoa Zoro was not having it.

They had parried his blows, read his movements. The goons that he had with him were absolutely useless. Did the rival boss hire someone new? Not that he really cared. The more heads he brought in, the more money for him. The more money for food and booze. But this damn person was being an absolute pain in his ass. He needed to get off this damn island.

He carefully studied the figure before him, the moonlit night illuminating them like a ghost. They wore a long coat of sorts that covered most of their body. They stood a few inches shorter than him but seemed taller by their unnerving presence. Their hair was long and dark, pulled up in a high ponytail. Silver buckles glinted off of their knee-high boots and a light-colored furred scarf was around their neck with longer strands swaying behind them in the whispering breeze. They were unsettling, like a spectral being fresh from the grave to claim the souls they're owed.

"Are you just going to keep standing there?" He asked in a cautious tone, gripping the hilts of his katana. "I don't have all night."

They cocked their head to the side with a frown. Who the hell was this person? Probably just another hired hand, but one that actually knew what they were doing. Or it could be a dog the rival boss was hiding. It didn't matter to Zoro. Not at all. He was getting more pissed by the second just watching the figure. It's like they were mocking him.

One more tick of the clock and the person charged him. Another blatant attack like they had done before. Zoro crossed his blades before him as they thrust their bloody spear right at his face. They were faster than him but barely. There was a big smile on their face, and he saw that all their teeth were pointed. Zoro matched that manic grin. He will admit. It has been a while since he last was challenged by a strong opponent. But a job was a job.

He loosened his guard, moving his swords to the side to let the spear slide through and brought the person closer to him. As he did so, he took the katana in his right hand to slash upward with blinding speed. The figure was quick to dodge the blade, the tip slicing through the sleeve of their coat. They rolled to the side and swiftly moved to gain their ground, but Zoro wasn't going to let them.

He charged them, swinging both blades from his side right at their head. It would have been a satisfactory decapitation if they hadn't evaded by bending over backward. They kicked up as they flipped into better footing, their boot clipping Zoro in the chin. Who the fuck was this person? Most people would have cowered in defeat when fighting against him, but here he was. Having trouble with this bastard before him.

He wasn't giving them a chance to straighten their posture as he leaped towards them, swords above his head. As he swung down, for a brief moment he saw their eyes. They were an icy blue and vibrant in the moonlight. Animalistic too. It sent a shiver down his spine. His blades came into contact with the spear again, making a loud metallic clang ring out in the quiet night.

They may be faster than him, but he was stronger. He pushed against their guard, expecting them to crumble. They refused and planted their boots firmly into the cobblestone road as they purposely dropped to the ground, causing Zoro to stumble over them. He was swift to steady himself and face his opponent, but not fast enough as the head of the spear sliced over his shoulder. The wound was deep and began to turn his white shirt crimson, yet he didn't care. He wanted to fucking kill this person.

They stood a few feet apart and glared each other down again, like two deadly predators on their haunches waiting for the other to move. Zoro's body was buzzing with excitement. Finally, a real fight after nothing but useless peons. He could feel his blood rushing through him, and his heart pounded in his chest. He grabbed his third blade in the white sheathe, setting it tightly between his teeth.

He bolted towards them this time, his blades hungry for blood. The person matched his speed, raising the spear to protect their side from his swords. He could tell they were starting to waver as their guard wasn't solid. He pushed them back, sending them tumbling along the cobblestone and into an alleyway. They crashed into crates and barrels, leaving a trail of splintered wood. Almost as soon as they vanished into the dust, they dashed out and stayed low to the ground with the spear behind them.

Their speed had suddenly increased, almost becoming a blur but Zoro felt that familiar killing intent and blocked the full force of their strike. They were using the entire spear now, not just jabbing at him like before. There was a bit more bite into their attacks, and they still had that broad smile plastered on their face. Zoro reared back for a barrage of blows that caused sparks to fly and clangs to ring when metal met metal.

It wasn't long until Zoro saw a break. The figure's attacks were becoming more sluggish. He easily knocked the spear away and slashed up along their collarbone with the blade in his left hand, causing blood to spurt from the fresh wound. Before they could back off too fast, he brought the sword in his right down across their masked face. He wasn't too sure if he had got them that time as they hopped away several feet. He heard the sound of something breaking, like a faint crackle. The person was hunched over as the fox mask fell into two pieces and shattered when it hit the ground.

Not yet. He's not-"

"Aw, it broke."

Zoro felt his whole body turn to ice. That was the first time hearing the person speak and that person was a woman. They...she faced him. Her facial features illuminated by the moon were soft and slightly rounded and her eyes were almond-shaped. She rose a hand to her face where a scratch was across her nose, tracing over it before looking down to the much more terrible wound. This whole time Zoro had been fighting a girl and this whole time she had been keeping up with him. He could only stare at her, his brain suddenly having trouble processing what was going on.

"You're terrifying you know?" She spoke with a voice like a gentle wind through a meadow, soft and slightly cold. There wasn't any animosity in her tone. It was quite friendly in fact. "So, what's your story?"

Zoro's voice refused to work. He was just standing there with his three swords unsheathed and a look of confusion on his face. She did the head tilt thing again with a pout. This had to be a trick. Some way for him to lower his guard before she strikes. But she was there in the middle of the street, muttering to herself as she prodded at the gash on her collarbone. This can't be happening. She met his gaze, her pale eyes gemstones in the moonlight. It was a look of curiosity.

"Why don't we put this behind us and introduce ourselves?"

He kept quiet, his eyes narrowed, and his brows knitted together.

"Alright then. My name is Sade. I was hired by the boss that's rival to the gang you seem to be in cahoots with."

He was right then. His body slowly began to relax, and he straightened his posture as he sheathed the blade between his teeth but kept the other two out. She hadn't reached for her weapon. Was this a surrender? Or a trap? Her expression was nonchalant, making it hard for Zoro to get a read on her.

"Listen, I'm not trying to be friends here. But there really is no point for us to keep fighting. You can ease up, I'm not going to do anything."

Her words matched her expression. She was being truthful. Zoro finally sheathed his remaining two swords but had his hand resting on the hilts out of habit. There was a smile now on her face and her eyes seemed to light up when she saw him relax. She raised her hands as she slowly backed away, taking a seat on a crate behind her. Zoro stayed where he was.

"Mind telling me your name now?"

"Zoro."

"Zoro huh?" She repeated, looking up thoughtfully with a finger on her chin. "Where have I heard that name before? Oh! You're that bounty hunter I keep hearing about!"

"I'm not a bounty hunter. Just trying to survive like everyone else."

"Which led you to be someone's bitch huh?"

"Hah?! I am not!"

She pulled her furry scarf above her mouth to hide her laughter. "I'm in the same boat as you. How long have you been here?"

What was her game? They were trying to murder each other not that long ago and now she was sitting on a wooden crate, acting all amiable. He let out an angry sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck before sitting next to her on a barrel. Curiosity was getting the better of him. Who was she really? What type of training did she have? Why was she working with these punks?

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"Question?"

"Yeah, the one where I asked you how long you've been here."

"Oh. It's been a month."

"You've been doing this for a month? Don't you get bored fighting those weaker than you over and over again?"

It was a valid point and Zoro did agree. "It pays well. Then your stupid ass suddenly showed up and I'm down a head. Where the hell were you even hiding?"

She hummed. "On the rooftop watching, you fight. Learning how you fought. That's what I did for the past week. I arrived a few days before that."

She was watching him for a week? That explained why she got so used to his fighting style after just meeting. And why she knew when to attack. His...allies to put it nicely didn't stand a chance. She was like a serpent through the sea of bodies, meticulously striking where the most damage would be done. She was dangerous. She had led him away from the carnage and into a different street so they could have a fight without interruptions. A methodical killer that knew how to use her body as a weapon. He still beat her though.

"Where'd you learn to fight?"

His question caught her off guard, he could see it in her eyes when their gazes met. Her brows furrowed together as she thought for a few moments. Zoro studied her misleading face carefully. At first glance, she didn't appear to be someone who kills for a living. Well, the world was big, and anything could happen.

"Not sure how to answer that," she finally replied as she crossed her arms. "I was taught I guess?"

"You guess? The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Hmmm long story short, I work for an organization. A massive band of mercenaries would best put it. That's how I was trained." She stood up, grimacing from the pain. "For six years I've been with them. I was hired by my current employer because of the reputation the group has. Same as you. Sort of."

A soldier of fortune. Not what Zoro was expecting. He rose from the barrel as well, keeping a stern gaze on her as she bent over to pick up her spear. From what he's heard, mercenaries are worse than bounty hunters. Ruthless killers with no allegiance to anyone but to themselves. And money. It was a bit disturbing knowing the truth. He watched her as she stood straight in the eerie moon above, lost in thought. Looks are beyond deceiving. She seemed like someone he'd see on the street and think nothing of her. Just another face he'd probably never see again. The only time he felt any sort of presence from her was when they were fighting. His hand gripped the hilt of one of his katana a little bit tighter.

"Why don't I buy you a drink?"

Her question was completely out of the blue and it made Zoro glare at her for a while before he answered. "What?"

"A drink."

"Why? I don't trust or like you."

"Why not? And don't worry the feelings are mutual. Like I said before I'm not trying to be friends with you. Let's get a drink to celebrate surviving another day."

He rose a brow, seeing her toothy smile. Her posture was relaxed, and her guard didn't exist. He still couldn't read her, but she didn't appear to want to keep fighting. One drink wouldn't hurt, would it? He heaved a breath.

"Fine."

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