Chapter 3: To Draw Your Sword

In the blink of an eye the entire table of mafiosos had their guns pointed towards Tashigi. With a kick to the stomach she sent the child out of harm's way and rushed towards the exit, chased by Yakuza. Before Yakuza's men could follow her they were blindsided by Fullbody wildly swinging his fists.

When Tashigi got out of the restaurant she used the momentum of a turn to at Yakuza with her sword. He nimbly jumped to the side, and with a high-pitched, buzzing insect voice he screamed.

-Meeeen!

Men wielding tommy guns appeared out of the shadows and surrounded Tashigi in a matter of seconds.

-Fireee! Yakuza cried.

But before they could, a caped figure rushed through their ranks and over to Tashigi. In a flash X Drake stood over her in his massive allosaurus form and stared down all the horrified gangsters. It didn't take long for them to drop their guns and run away screaming for their lives.

-Cowards! Yakuza swore, before turning to X Drake, observing that he had large gaping wounds all over his body.

-Slow Prey Cage!

Yakuza dashed around Tashigi and Drake so fast that they couldn't see him, slicing X Drake from each and every direction. Every time Tashigi jumped in to block the attack Yakuza would simply switch directions at a moment's notice. In the blink of an eye Drake was drenched in his own blood and fell to the ground in human form.

Yakuza was darting around Tashigi trying to find the perfect spot to strike, and she started to panic. But, despite that, she took slow, deep breaths and focused…

12 years earlier…

Rain pours down over the port town Sharpman Village, and wandering down one of its many run-down back-alleys, between the beggars tightly packed under the small amounts of roof space and the sick, shabby dogs looking for food, is an twelve-year old Tashigi.

She shivers as she is only wearing a torn-up blackbrown dress that was once pristine-white and holding tight onto a small wooden stick. She is searching for food and cover, but after working in a factory her eyes became so damaged by gasses and heat that she has become terribly near-sighted.

Unbeknownst to Tashigi, a wild dog has started rushing towards her, frothing at the mouth. It jumps to attack, but Tashigi turns around to be met by the sight of the dog's head being sliced straight off. For a moment the shock stuns her, before she breaks down crying.

-Oh, excuse me. I didn't consider that the sight would be so horrific to a small child, a warm, older voice comforts Tashigi.

-...Huh?..Who are you? Tashigi manages to get out in between the sobs.

The person that killed the dog took a step closer so that the near-sighted Tashigi could see him. It was a slim woman in her thirties, dressed in an elegant robe with a floral pattern. Her thin, wise face was scarred over the right eye with a massive gaping wound.

-I am Okami, and if you follow me, I'll give you shelter in my dojo, she pointed towards the giant hill that loomed over the town that Tashigi could not see. Tashigi nodded eagerly, and they set off, Tashigi protected from the rain under Okami's coat.

Tashigi sat down in the dojo's little kitchen. A maid served her some hot herbal tea and chased away the other children staring at Tashigi through the door.

-Child, may I ask, where are your parents? Okami spoke gently. At first the stress made it difficult for Tashigi to speak, but seeing the friendly smile on the older woman's face she began.

-Mommy died when I was very young, and my Dad was sent to fight the Fish-Men… and never came back.

Tashigi's father caught Okami's attention.

-Oh, he was a fellow soldier?

-You fought in the war as well?

-Yes… it was the Fish-Men that gave me this scar. I started this dojo to teach this country's war orphans to defend themselves if the Fish-Men ever try to rise again…

Okami reached out a hand to Tashigi that was pushed back.

-My eyes are bad. The world is fuzzy and I can barely see my own hands! How will I be able to fight!

Okami laughed and went over to a nearby cabinet to take out a small black box and gave it to Tashigi. Inside, on top of a velvet pillow, was a pair of black-rim glasses. Tashigi put them on, and immediately the world was sharpened into clarity. It took a moment for her to realize that she could see again, and when she did, Tashigi broke down in tears.

-T…thank you, Okami!

-It's no worry, child. And, you may call me Master.

6 months later.

Tashigi and Okami sat on their knees between each other, surrounded by incense with a small wooden table in between them. Laying on that table was a sword in its sheath.

-Tashigi, congratulations on your thirteenth birthday. You may now draw the blade.

With slow precise motions Tashigi pulled out the shining steel blade.

-Your mastery with the wooden sword is unmatched, and you may use a lethal blade.

Tashigi observed the beautiful sword for a few seconds, before resheathing it.

-I'm… I'm sorry, but I can't accept it. I chose to become a swordswoman to protect the weak and honor my father's memory, not to kill.

-I understand your reasoning, but if you were to fight with an invading Fish-Man, you would only have the choice to kill if you wish to protect others.

Tashigi thought about it, and eventually picked up the sword.

-Until that day, I shall wear it but never use it.

Okami laughed.

-That's great! For now, go and eat! It's celebratory ramen tonight! Tashigi shone up and ran to the dining room.

Surrounding a giant pot of noodles was a wild mess of flailing arms and coiling bodies as the students attempted to reach in for more. Tashigi rushed towards the giant crowd, jumped off the back of an older student, landed on the table, filled her bowl and jumped away right in front of her shocked classmates.

Other students came up to Tashigi, trying to bribe her with candy or money, but she refused and continued stuffing herself until a younger, meek kid came up to her.

-H-hi. My n-name is Oliver, and… He was interrupted by his stomach growling.

-I-can't reach the b-bowl because the older k-kids keep p-pushing me away. C-can I…

Without another word Tashigi handed him the bowl.

-I wasn't that hungry anyway. Eat up so you can get strong! She said and smiled. Oliver's face shone with admiration and joy as he ran to join the others at his table. But, right in the middle of the dining hall he was stopped by Kugo, a student twice his size and age.

-Hey there, how did you get those noodles? Did you get special servings or some shit? That's not fair, you've gotta wait in line! Kugo stretched out his hand and Oliver quickly withdrew his bowl.

-You're trying to get tricky with me? Kugo drew the steel sword hanging by his side and held it up. Oliver's face turned deathly pale and he stretched over the bowl, but Kugo was interrupted by a wooden sword flying straight into his face.

Tashigi dashed forward and catched her sword in the air.

-Don't you dare pull your sword lightly! She screamed. The humiliation of being lectured by a girl four years younger than him made Kugo swing his sword towards Tashig in a blind rage. Luckily, he ended up only hitting the floor. Tashigi replied with a brutal blow to Kugo's head.

The fight continued; Kugo swung his dangerous metal blade and Tashigi would dodge, replying with ten powerful blows. It didn't take long before Kugo was too exhausted to stand, and Tashigi won on knock-out. While her classmates clapped and cheered, Tashigi turned to Oliver.

-Are you okay? She asked.

-Y-yes, Oliver replied and smiled earnestly. Those words were all that Tashigi needed to go to bed unworried.

Tashigi awoke from the sound of shouts coming from outside the temple, though they were barely audible under the pouring rain. Tashigi looked out her window and in the dark of night and without her glasses she could barely make out human silhouettes standing outside the temple gate, and she didn't notice at all that they weren't human.

She reached for the wooden sword that was always laid by her bed but accidentally grabbed the steel one she had been given earlier that day, before dashing through the temple garden, ignoring the harsh winds and cold rain, to open for the strangers. When she reached the gate she found her master just about to open the gate.

-Oh, Tashigi! What are you doing out here at this time of night? I'll take care of whoever's knocking, go back to bed! Okami scolded. Tashigi sighed and turned around but when the gate opened and she heard the voice of the man on the other side, Tashigi froze.

-Please, h-help us. We've been walking for three days straight without something to eat. Everyone else kicked us away, if you would just… The voice that was speaking was trembling and desperate, but undeniably a fish-man. Tashigi turned around to see the hammerhead shark, it's body meager from starvation and covered in wet bandages.

To her surprise, Tashigi felt sympathy. Her teacher did not feel the same.

In burning, blind rage Okami drew his sword and pointed it towards the hammerhead. The other soldiers quickly backed off.

-You…You scum invade our country, kill my friends, take my eye and expect me to give you protection!? He screamed.

-We-we're s-sorry f-for your eye, b-but we're begging…

-I don't care for your begs. You didn't listen to my begs for mercy when you ruined my ability to ever wield a sword! Okami swung his sword and was met by a metallic clang.

-Master, you're not on an equal level. They're victims just like you are. Let them in! Tashigi objected.

-They're victims?! Tashigi, you're spitting your father's memory in the face!

-No. He told me to protect the weak, and if you won't understand that… Tashigi felt her eyes welling up with tears as she stood up against the one that had given her a home and guidance for two years.

-...I'll defeat you!

The fish-men quickly backed away as teacher and student faced each other, both with weapons of death in their hands.

-Tashigi… Okami spoke in a dead-serious voice Tashigi had never heard before.

-If you manage to win this, you will be forced to continue on protecting the weak, but if you are weak yourself, that will only lead to ruin. Back off, and let me have my way with them.

-Master, if I win this, remember… Tashigi responded.

-I'll continue to love you and dad, and I'm grateful for all the skills you two have given me.

Okami raised her sword to attack.

-Godspeed Slice!

In a flash of steel it was poured out from Okami's leg as he laid on the ground, crying and swearing.

-I'll call for help and we'll fix your leg, but I will turn you in for attacking your own student. For mine, for dad's, for the fish-men's and for your sake I hope you never pull a sword again. Tashigi kneeled down and grabbed her masters Skillful Grade Sword Shigure.

-You shouldn't wield a sword like this… and neither should anyone like you. I swear on my life that no Meito blade should ever be wielded by evil men again! Tashigi turned to the Fish-Men.

-Come in and drink some tea!

A week later.

-Gaaaaaargh! The robber cried out as Tashigi cut him to the ground and walked out from the alley, where she was stopped by a well-built man fifteen years older than her in a white coat smoking two cigars.

-I hear you're the kid taking care of some Fish-Men refugees out of town?

Tashigi panicked and reached for her sword.

-Well, since 24 hours ago the war is over and I'm supposed to help them back home. I've been looking for a swordsman to have onboard, and you've got some skill! Smoker smiled and stretched out his hand.

-Sail with me and I'll get you into the Navy academy! What do you say?

The rugged man's kind offer made Tashigi instinctually nod.

-Very well, lead the way to those refugees. And by the way, you can call me Smoker. Captain Smoker.

And with those words, Tashigi's new mentor and best friend entered her life, and a new phase of it began…

-Godspeed Parry!

Tashigi parried Yakuza with a Haki-infused swing of such magnitude that the gangster was sent crashing into a wall and sheathed her sword.

Fullbody and Jango rushed forward and picked up Drake.

-We have a hideout outside of town! Fullbody shouted to Tashigi and they made their escape before Yakuza's goons could get them.

The hideout turned out to be a ramshackle old house hidden on a small sand beach far from the city. The roof had nearly collapsed entirely and the only sign that someone had once lived there was a cigarette-marked mattress on the floor and an old coal stove. While Fullbody made tea, Tashigi tended to X Drake's wounds. Suddenly, his eyes shot up.

-W-where am I? Tashigi noticed that even though he had woken up somewhere completely different and was obviously hurt, X Drake only sounded surprised, not scared.

-You're in an old house outside of town that the gangsters don't seem to be aware of.

X Drake breathed a sigh of relief.

-Good.

-I know you need rest, but I have one question… There was one thing that had deeply bothered Tashigi.

-What?
-The people in town, they seemed to dislike me being from the Navy, even though they have a crime problem. Why?

X Drake tilted his head.

-I suppose it's time I tell you about the Yangu Family…

Tashigi backstory!? Yeah when her actual backstory is revealed this is gonna be very silly, but so is the rest of this fic and I'm still very happy with how this one turned out. Also this is the last chapter I am writing and editing pre-publishing, so the chapters are probably gonna be slightly shorter from now on.