Chapter 1: An Old Friend
A LOUD CLASHING noise could be heard out into the evening. Followed by the huffs of muscular men. All of which were in sync with one another. The hears of shinai clashing against one another each boy paired up with another.
But one stood out against the mass, a boy with green tuffs on his head. He had sweat dripping off his chin as he fought. Unlike the others, he possessed three shinai. One in his mouth, the others in his hands. His name was Roronoa Zoro and he was the creator of the first ever three sword style.
It would be a style he had created all by himself. Not giving his "friend" his overdue credit for helping him form his two sword style. A strange man that lived in Zoro head was placed as an "imaginary friend" in his eyes.
The "friend" was a large and very muscular man of towering height; he was 200 centimeters taller than him. He wore this orange kimono that seemed to not cover his legs and something he called nio-dasuki tied around his shoulders that ran down his back. His clothes seem to clash colors but for the guy it looked good on him. It fit with his crazy hair and the red eyeliner he wore.
The "friend" often claimed his name to be Kozuki Oden, a famous Wano samurai. Zoro would often huff at him saying "I must have a crazy imagination to think of something called Wano". The boy would often laugh at Oden's claims. But Zoro did take him seriously when it came down to fighting. Somehow his subconscious knew how to fight.
Zoro had finished off his last component, swiping the poor guy under his feet. "You've gotta try better." Zoro groaned. Not only was this guy a waste of his time, he didn't know how to hold shinai right; how could he ever hold three blades.
Zoro had not held blades ever since he was ten swearing he would hold them after mastering holding three blades after Kuina's death. His original accomplishment was to weld two but after her death he decided to honor her by welding her own sword. The influence of these came from Oden. Zoro had agreed even if he possessed two other blades he shall not wield them for he is not yet worthy. He would only have to wait until he does the Daibutsu Giri; horizontal sword slashes that are powerful enough to cut apart a small building.
Zoro started reminiscing on his thoughts; he had challenged Kuina, his childhood rival to another match. Being a year younger than him she thought he was childish. Saying something underlines of I've beat you multiple times ya da ya da… we just fought yesterday. He had challenged her on a daily basis. But tonight was the night he was sure he could beat her. He grabbed his two crap katanas; the ones made by Kuina's grandfather, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, a swordsmith.
The katanas were named Yama and Naraku; Yama had a scabbard of red with splotches of gold color rings spaced apart; the handle was a normal black with a golden pommel. Unlike Yama, Naraku the scabbard was black with that of golden rings with pointed diamond in the center that wrapped around the scabbard; the handle and pommel was the same with Yama.
He would initiate their two thousand and first match. This time he would give Kuina a run for her money. Kunia had picked up her weapon Wado Ichimonji; a sword with a pure-white hilt with a circular hand-guard. Zoro was first to move "Hawk Wave" he would use the front of his blade to do this. Kuina would be sent back by the gust but would not sustain damage as she blocked the attack. Zoro would repeatedly hit her with "Hawk Wave" with it being what he thought was his best move. But to his surprise she kept blocking.
The two would move across the hill, Zoro trying to get an advantage from distance. Kuina smirked at this; she always showed a level of cockiness. Which would make Zoro piss. As Oden cheered her on with a nothingless voice. Kunia couldn't be her fictional man but with Zoro distraction of her cockiness and his annoyance of his "imaginary friend". Zoro was left open for the picking. Kunia used "Lion's Strike" non-leathly using the back of her blade.
The attack left a solid strike at his abdomen. Blood seeping throughout the injury. Zoro spit a tag of blood. "That's all you got? You all mighty swordsmen?" Zoro huffed. Trying to reflect his rival's cockiness.
Kunia gave an impressed look getting back into ready stace as she had been behind Zoro. The two went at it again and again. You could hear it out into the afternoon. The two finally stopped when they were all sweaty. Both Kuina and Zoro collect themselves.
Zoro passed out soon after their break. To Kunia dismay. She had noticed how he had grown from a boy she'd taken down with one hit to a boy she's gone head to head with. She truly was thankful to the boy who had kept her company. To her this two thousand and first win was nothing but to him it had weight. Maybe when she woke up she'd tell how much he's grown. But first she must secure her and his safety.
She would bandage herself and injure Zoro. Which would end up with the two having minor scars on their hands and arms. As to Zoro he would have a shrunken scar on the left side of his abdomen.
She would lay next to him resting. Oden would gush on how cute the pair was reminding him of him and his wife. He would possess Zoro's body and move him closer to Kunia. Both get the right amount of body heat needed for chilly night. Though two weren't spooning just a friendly cuddle.
The two would awaken the first Kunia followed by sleepy Zoro. Who had been shaken awake. "Zoro." The boy would shudder at the hearing of his name. He would lift slowly. His head drooping to the side and his eyes heavy. "You know you're amazing right?" Kunia said her voice was full of confidence and a touch of malice. "Huh?" Zoro didn't know where this was coming from.
The girl he chased to beat called him amazing. But why was there this riveting ball of fear in his gullet. He had turned to her. His eyes soon bulged out his sockets. There was this face of sorrow or shame written on her face he had never seen before. Her eyes were glossy like she was about to cry but there was this touching realization in it. A realization that seems to worsen this pain in his stomach.
She gave out a dry sigh. "You are becoming too fast and I might never catch up again." She seems to break down at this. Zoro couldn't comprehend why this was her tipping point; he looked towards Oden for help. But the other was puzzled as well. He motioned for Zoro to ask more questions of why she was crying.
"Do you mind telling me why you're crying?" Zoro gave out this crackly voice one of unsurety or discomfort as he was not one to comfort others. Kuina sniffled, "I won't ever keep up with you Zoro. It's because I'm a girl. Girls are as strong as guys so I won't ever be as strong as you." Zoro seems to flare at this. His face gone read the empathy he felt turn to anger.
"So what?" Zoro huffed looking up at her. Kunia, surprised by his words, questioned, "So what?" "Kunia strength doesn't always matter and if it did then train with me." This surprised Kunia again. "If we train together we will get equal as strong together. All you need is hard work." Kunia smiled. "Fine then."
Kunia stood up and Zoro followed. "Promise me this when I finally maste two sword styles and I master one sword style we stop training together and go our separate ways." Kunia explained. Zoro raised a brow. Kunia took note and supposed this, "As well as separate ways. So when the day comes we become the greatest swordsman." Zoro chuckled. "May the greatest win."
The two settled from there discussion clocking in for the night both returning to their respective homes. That would be last night the parted ways.
As for Kunia would die from not only falling down the stairs but the injuries she sustained from last afternoon.
Zoro would call for her body lying lifeless, its face covered with a cloth. Zoro asked the sensei, Kuina's father, to give Zoro her sword, Wado Ichimonji; he will become the world's greatest swordsman on her behalf.
Author's Note:
Things will change for Zoro and if things are italicized it usually means flashback.
(Alternate Ending - A)
He would initiate their two thousand and first match. This time he would give Kuina a run for her money. Kunia had picked up her weapon Wado Ichimonji; a sword with a pure-white hilt with a circular hand-guard. Zoro was first to move "Oden Two-Sword Style: Gun Modoki" ; he would use the front of his blade to do this.
Kuina would not only be unable to block the attack but was given life threatening injuries. She would soon pass out from exhaustion from battle, dead. At least Zoro won two thousand and the first fight.
(Alternate Ending - B)
The two would move across the hill, Zoro trying to get an advantage from distance. Kuina smirked at this; she always showed a level of cockiness. Which would make Zoro piss. As Oden cheered her on with a nothingless voice. Kunia couldn't be her fictional man but with Zoro distraction of her cockiness and his annoyance of his "imaginary friend". Zoro was left open for the picking. Kunia used "Lion's Strike" non-leathly using the back of her blade.
The attack left a solid strike at his abdomen. Blood seeping throughout the injury. Zoro spit a tag of blood. "That's all you got? You all mighty swordsmen?" Zoro huffed. Trying to reflect his rival's cockiness.
Zoro would die soon after the battle sustaining serious injury.
(Alternate Ending - C)
Oden possesses Zoro body and uses "Oden Two-Sword Style: Gun Modoki" killing Kunia.
Shinai (竹刀) - A Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in kendo.
