Chapters will get longer later in the story. Stay safe in these troubling times (in America, especially, right now). Enjoy~
"Zoro! What the hell happened to you?!" Usopp exclaimed once he came out to see Zoro laying on the deck, drenched with blood. He had a big lump on his head, and the light of the day hurt his eyes. Then he quickly got up and felt his chest. He was completely fine!
But there was blood all over his shirt. Was last night a dream? Then he looked to his sides, seeing two swords. Wado Ichimonji was gone.
"Fuck!" Zoro screamed in fury. He looked at the evidence of last night's fight. The holes in the deck and mast, the scrapes along the ground and the blood splatters. Luffy must have done something to heal Zoro's injuries, or he'd be dead. But this was more embarrassing than being killed by a tiny woman.
First of all, he was knocked out like a little bitch and robbed. Then he was healed by his enemy! And it was a tiny, tiny girl who did this! His face turned bright red in shame and embarrassment. The fight had been fun, but he didn't like the outcome.
And she knocked him out with his own sword. He turned even redder at that.
"Whoa, what happened out here? Where is your white sword?" Usopp asked in confusion. Zoro was never without all three of his swords. Zoro turned and snarled at him.
"Don't tell the Love-cook or Robin," he hissed at the long nosed teen.
"Tell me what?" Robin asked as she came out onto the deck with Nami behind her. Zoro felt cornered when everyone asked him what was up.
"Are you… blushing?!" Nami questioned.
"No! I'm not blushing! I need to take a walk!" Zoro roared, ripping his shirt off as he left the ship.
"Be careful of pissing off the nymphs -" Nami called.
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" Zoro shouted as he ran away and down the dock. "LUFFY!"
"Luffy? Can someone tell me what just happened?" Usopp asked in confusion.
"He's not gonna go be mean to Luffy, is he?" Chopper asked in concern. Robin put her hand on her chin in thought. Then she smiled.
"It would seem that Luffy has beaten and stolen one of Zoro's swords," she said with a chuckle. "I did tell him to be careful about his swords on this island," the woman added. Sanji busted up in laughter.
"What a disgrace!" he howled as he laughed uncontrollably. "He was beaten and robbed by a tiny woman. Ah man, I am not going to forget this." Robin chuckled as well. Nami smirked. She liked this Luffy now.
Luffy sat at the peak and watched the Going Merry once the sun began to rise. When Zoro woke up, she chuckled. Even from there she could tell her was humiliated. Poor guy! Luffy laughed some more as he started screaming in anger. Well, he should be embarrassed, not that she was surprised by the outcome. It was not her intention to kill him. She just wanted at least one of his beautiful blades.
She'd spent a long time in her room, admiring the sword and running her hands along the smooth blade. It had a nice feel coming off of it. Then she put it in her closet, which she'd turned into a large display case. She set her new blade at the top or the shelf, so it would be the first to be seen when anyone entered the small space.
After Luffy got some rest, she wandered out of the home and to scope out the docks. She came skipping back home to get Ace. She had to tell him about it.
She knocked on his door. "Ace, I have something to show you," she said through the door. Her brother opened the door with a yawn.
"What is it, Luffy?" When Luffy gave him a smirk, he woke up a little more. "Come see," was what Luffy said, leading him to her closet display. "I beat him last night! And I stole the white sword! I told you I could do it. And I did it by myself," Luffy told him, laughing, arms crossed and wearing a triumphant grin.
"You didn't kill him, did you?" Ace asked, laughing with her.
"Of course I didn't kill him. I healed him, so he should be fine."
"Oh no, he won't be. I'm betting he is humiliated. You pissed on his manly honor. What was the fight like?" Ace asked. They both sat on Luffy's fluffy bed as she recounted last night and how the fight turned out.
"I'm going back for another one tonight."
"You better be careful. He's gonna be pissed. He's probably gonna go around the island screaming for you. What will you do if he catches you?"
"I'll laugh at him. I'm sure, even if they can't hear us, they can tell when they are being ridiculed. I told you I was strong!" Luffy added with a hearty laugh. Ace smiled with her.
"Don't tell anyone else about it until the pirates are gone."
"Oh, I'm sure he's not gonna want to leave before he has his sword back," Luffy replied with a knowing smile. "I watched him wake up. He was furious. I'd be scared if I weren't so strong."
"Don't get full of yourself. You'll shoot yourself in the foot if you do that," Ace warned. "Let's go watch him." Luffy got up and ran out of the room after him, heading for the defeated green haired pirate.
It didn't take long for them to find him, rampaging through the town, but staying away from the nymphs as best as he could in his rage. He clearly was now wary of the tiny creatures. If they could all do what Luffy had done, then they truly were dangerous.
Everyone, nymph or human, watched the man warily. What was his problem? His face was bright red as his eyes sifted through the market. There weren't many nymphs out yet. Zoro was swearing colorfully as he walked around the streets he'd seen Luffy on.
Luffy and Ace watched him from the roofs of the buildings along the roads he was stalking.
"Man, you pissed him off. Poor guy. I can't help but feel sorry for him," Ace said in sympathy.
"Well, I'm not giving his sword back! I won it fair and square. If he gets mad about that, then he's not a very good swordsman," Luffy replied, crossing her arms. "I thought humans were stronger than this. I am disappointed."
"Luffy…" Ace began. He had a feeling she should give the sword back. His feelings obviously showed on his face, for Luffy grew angry.
"He can have it back if he beats me next time. No one gives back jewelry that they steal! Why do I have to give a sword back that I won? I didn't steal it like a common thief!" Luffy said indignantly. "If I had lost, then I would have left. I'd have tried again!"
Ace sighed. He knew Luffy was right. But he didn't want this angry human to cause a major problem.
"Well, why don't you tell him that?" Luffy's big brother asked. "Tell him that he'll get his sword back if he defeats you tonight. Maybe that will diffuse the situation. As he is now, he could cause damage and end up getting banished or even killed." Luffy frowned, crinkling up her nose.
"...Fine. But how do you expect me to tell him that?"
"Chopper is his crewmate, right? Maybe he'll be your translator. And I'll be there in case it goes wrong. How about we go get him?" Luffy scowled.
"I don't like this!" she exclaimed. "Why are you making a big deal about it? You never get like this about when I've stolen someone else's weapon. What's so special about this one?"
"His bounty is a lot higher than the others. That's why."
"Well, he doesn't live up to his bounty at all. He should be ashamed of his performance."
"Luffy! You used four blades against him, healed yourself constantly, and moved around in a way humans can't. Of course he was at a disadvantage," Ace reasoned. "Why do you care so much about this one sword? Is it because it's white? What's so special about it?"
"It feels alive. That's why. It feels like someone's soul is trapped inside of it, and I've never met a weapon like that! That's why I want to keep it."
"Don't you think that's why it is important to him? Maybe he knows the person's soul you say is in the blade." Luffy frowned at this. If that was the case, she could see why he was so upset. Ooh, but it was such an amazing blade! She really didn't want to give it up.
"I want to see it again before we talk," Luffy said curtly. She then turned around and leapt off of the roof and hurried into the forest, heading home.
Luffy sat on her bed with Wado Ichimonji in her lap. She had the scabbard propped against the wall as she just stared at the sword.
Luffy found herself asking the sword what it wanted. "Do you want to stay here with me, or go back to Roronoa Zoro?" Of course there was no verbal answer, but she got the feeling of shame in the weapon.
"You're ashamed that your master lost, aren't you?" Luffy questioned. "It was pretty sad," she added with a chuckle. "I won't use you against him again," the nymph said with a sigh. "Do you want me to take you back? Then you can try again... Kuina..."
Luffy felt a little tug in her mind when she knew the sword wanted to go back to its original owner. She sighed and sheathed the weapon smoothly. Holding it in one arm, she left the room and found Ace in his. She had never met a weapon like this. It was a shame she had to return it.
"I'm gonna give her back. She wants to go back to her owner," Luffy said, somewhat sad. She'd never come across another blade like this one. Ace didn't question Luffy calling the sword a she. Luffy was strange like that.
"Okay, let's go find Chopper," Ace said. Luffy held Wado Ichimonji wrapped in a blanket, carefully so as not to drop it and damage the scabbard or get it dirty, since it was such a pure white.
It didn't take long for them to find Chopper, for many nymphs went out of their way to see him. Ace and Luffy had just asked for directions.
Luffy and Ace walked up to the pirate crew, without Zoro. Chopper walked up to the two while the rest of the group watched, interested in what was to happen next.
"Can you take us to Roronoa Zoro?" Luffy asked. "I have to give him something back."
Chopper nodded, knowing what Luffy would be giving back. He wondered why…
They found Zoro chugging a bottle of alcohol, and he seethed at Luffy when she walked nearer to him. But she stayed a little over two yards away. "Can you translate for me?" Luffy questioned. Chopper nodded.
"'Your sword is disappointed in you,'" Chopper translated. Sanji started to laugh, but Luffy gave him a dark, warning scowl. He didn't make another noise again. Luffy turned back to Zoro, who was glaring at her. "'You broke your vow, but she doesn't want to be wielded by anyone but you.'"
Zoro's eyes widened, the rest of his face relaxing. The blood drained from his face. How the hell did Luffy know about the vow he made with Kuina? And she called Wado a 'she'...
Luffy unwrapped the sword carefully and walked nearer to Zoro, reaching up to give it back.
'"Take better care of her.'" The rest of the crew wondered why Zoro looked so pale and stunned.
"What is this sword's name?" Zoro asked harshly.
"'Kuina'," Chopper translated. Zoro's mouth opened in shock. Then Chopper spoke for Luffy again. "'I wouldn't have given back your other sword that isn't cursed. You're lucky.'" She turned around and walked to Ace, who had been observing Zoro the whole time.
"Let's go home and eat," Luffy said as she took Ace's hand. "I'm hungry from fighting last night."
"I would expect so," Ace replied with a smile. But then Zoro stopped them.
"Would you like to fight again sometime?" Zoro asked, sounding a little awkward. The rest of the crew looked at him like they didn't recognize him. What was so significant about their short conversation? And who was Kuina and this vow the nymph talked about?
Luffy turned around and grinned, nodding her head enthusiastically. Zoro felt his face heat up. Then the two nymphs walked away gracefully and quietly, conversing with each other.