The Kitsune's Heart
Chapter 13
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Days went by with nary a disturbance which made the fox holed up in his house worry just a fraction but that didn't stop him from getting out to train despite his weakened state with the loss of his two hoshi no tama. They were so close in vicinity but out of his reach as long as the two enemies in question were still alive and prowling around his precious forest. But that was the least of his worries for those days were preparation for something even more deadly in power than Jyabura and Lucci.
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In the town, people were on edge due to the fact that in the best village inn the town had to offer housed the Tenryuubito and they weren't pleased enough even with the luxurious service they were given and the promise of practically no distractions from any of the patrons to avoid making the already irate higher ups any more angry. Roswald slammed a fist down on the table before him. "I have yet to hear back from that blasted auctioneer! I want that fox here and now! This unwashed hell of a city can't do anything right!" he snarled in anger.
"Calm yourself, dear. We have our best three coming all the way from Mariejois to take care of that man that lost your kitsune. Once he's dealt with, this pathetic town can deal with bandits and other cities that hated them for their protection of that foolish swordsman and learn twice to never cross us." The woman spoke and he smirked. "Indeed. They will soon learn what's best for them."
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Three silhouettes were seen over the horizon at the entrance to town. People bustled and minded their own when a vendor pointed out the people over the rise. The news began to spread like a plague and soon, as the footsteps breached the quiet streets, people began to back away from the imposing figures making their way down the streets. Everyone in town knew who they were and the fact that they were out meant that the Tenryuubito that still waited in their town wasn't playing with kid gloves any more.
After the fiasco at the auction with the kitsune and their resident swordsman, they weren't going to let them off so easily. The burly one of the three walked up to a vendor that shrunk back at his size as narrowed eyes looked down to him. "We were summoned here by the Tenryuubito to look for a man named Roronoa Zoro. Do you know where his residence is?" he questioned although the poor vendor knew he was demanding where the other was.
"He...he lives on the outskirts of the town. B-but where he is, I don't really know. He only comes here sparingly for food and drink at the local bar." he stammered.
The man gave a snuff before nodding as he turned his back on the other and walked back to the two. "Aokiji, Kizaru. We're going to scour the forest for this man. Leave no stone unturned." They nodded and soon left the town and once their imposing presence was gone, the people began to relax but hoped well for the safety of their trusted guardian. They knew well of the three particular men's wrath, the tallest one especially. The first was Aokiji, while not a dangerous looking figure, he trained well with a sword and had two guns at his hip loaded and ready if they were needed but hardly used. Kizaru was the second and looked just as laid back as the first.
A single gun is all that he held and it was strapped to his back. He was quite the sharpshooter, quick as lightning and his enemies always fall after meeting him on the battlefield. And the last was Akainu, the brains and brawn behind the three. His cunning was matched with his heavy weaponry that he carried. He had a gun as well but the thing he had was bigger and the size of the bullets that were shot from it could only be rivaled by a cannonball. There was no one alive that could recount being hit by a shot from Akainu's gun and anyone who saw him and knew what he was capable of were usually the first to run.
His shots burned like a fire that no one could ever fathom to feel in their lifetime and he prided in such effects as he watch his opponent writhe on the field. And he was going to take great pleasure in ridding the town of their best swordsman who was claimed to be able to match anything thrown at him. They were going to test that theory today as he matched himself up with the three admirals that were known as the strongest in the capital.
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Zoro was training outside while Sanji sat in the house, cooking a light meal for himself and Zoro whenever the other man decided to come back in for something to eat. He knew the other was idiotic enough to continue about his regiment without eating and even though he had mounting problems of his own to worry about, not eating in front of this spirit were grounds for a fight. His ears perked up as something else accompanied the rhythmic sounds of sword swipes and he moved from the pot to look outside of a window that faced the town.
He saw three approaching figures and growled, knowing that it wasn't anyone from the town since they usually left the reclusive swordsman alone and by the scents, it wasn't the idiot man that tried to auction him off before. But he knew one smelled heavily of gunpowder and blood and knew this isn't good at all. 'Those damn nobles are the cause of this, I'm sure.' he thought to himself with a huff as he doused the fire and shifted into his smaller fox form to hide, knowing Zoro's acute senses will alert him to the people coming his way. He continued to train even as the three admirals surrounded him. He closed his eyes and let out a breath.
"What do you want?"
"We're here by orders of the Tenryuubito to eliminate you for costing them their prized kitsune at a recent auction." Akainu spoke. "But of course, things could be easier on you if you reveal the location of the kitsune or even better, if it's residing in your premises, to hand it over so it can go to its rightful owner." Aokiji added. "I don't know what you're talking about...but if it's a fight you're looking for, you got it." he murmured as he turned to the three men, a hand resting on his swords and waited for them to make the first move. Akainu growled and lifted the gun.
"Three on one? You're terribly outmatched for challenging us." he said before letting lose a shot and flexibility that they were expecting allowed him to dodge the heavy bullet and aimed for the man only to find himself blocked by another's sword. Aokiji looked to him before pushing him back and the dance of sword began as Kizaru gained himself some distance and readied his own gun, waiting for the usual opening that was given to him by Aokiji before he made his shots when the three were on the battlefield together.
They work as a tightly knit unit, two would fight while the other snipes. Where one is held back, another would jump into the fray and when their opponent is left dazed and confused, Akainu, known for his reckless behavior, would kill them with one shot of his cannon rifle.
Zoro continued to keep his ground fighting Aokiji, every missed swipe that aimed for something vital leaving behind a frigid trail as if the blade itself was made from the coldest ice. He grunted and heard a shot. Bringing up Shuusui for a block from Aokiji, he swiftly brought up Kitetsu and sliced the bullet aimed for his head. He glared at Kizaru who readied another shot, grin present on his face. "Two swords, hm? So they speak true of the famous Santoryuu swordsman." Aokiji murmured as he continued to fight with vigor. "And yet you don't bring your white blade out."
"She is reserved for the toughest of fights. So far you three are proving to not be up there." Zoro murmured as he made a sweep with his blades that Aokiji dodged with a backflip. Akainu growled as he aimed his gun. "You have some nerve to insult us!" he growled as he let loose another heavy bullet. Zoro quickly dodged and where it landed left a sizable crater but that was nothing on the effect that came after it. The bullet began to sink, smoke teeming from the crater as it disappeared from sight and he cursed as he returned to blocking, finding himself on defense and he didn't like it one bit. He growled as he shoved Aokiji back and dodged another bullet shot from Kizaru before putting both blades into his one hand before taking out Wadou and slipped it between his teeth.
"You have some nerve to bother me about some stuffed shirts that I hardly give a damn about. They're rich and powerful across the country and they get whatever they want. But this time, they're gonna have to find their own damn creature of mystic proportions since he's on my land and therefore under my care until he gets better and leaves me at his own volition." he spoke as he charged forward.
"So take a message and tell the Tenryuubito to stay the hell away from me!" he snarled as his movement became fierce, taking the offensive and while most of his moves were blocked and matched by Aokiji, he was giving the other a run for his money. Kizaru and Akainu both aimed for the swordsman and seeing this from the corner of his eye, Aokiji made a stab and when Zoro dodged, he leapt out of the way, giving Kizaru and Akainu the opening they were waiting for.
They both shot and the whistle of both bullets coming for the swordsman alerted Sanji and moved from his hiding spot to peek out the window and everything was like slow motion. The bullets coming after him, the stoic swordsman standing there as if concentrating on his next move, Sanji crying out for him although he couldn't hear him from the distance. Sanji thought the swordsman was a dead one but his eyes widened as he watched Zoro's next move.
Fluid in his movements, he sliced through the cannonball sized bullet and deflected the smaller bullet before leaping for Akainu and Kizaru. Although they were ready, they couldn't shoot at such a close range without the risk of the swordsman dodging the attack as quick as he had responded to dealing with the bullets coming for him. Akainu ducked the slice aimed for him by Kitetsu only to grunt in surprise when the blade was really aiming for his gun, slicing the barrel off while Shuusui left a nasty gash in Kizaru's arm before the other had a chance to step back enough to make a clear shot.
He growled, quite out of character for the usually laid back man, letting his gun drop as he held his bleeding arm, a nerve struck to knock out mobility in it. He pointed the sword at them, glare present on his face. "Begone from here and if I catch you here again, I won't hesitate to kill you despite your rank. Rank means nothing to me now."
Aokiji stepped back. "We will listen to your warning, but we will take it as a challenge. Until next we meet." Aokiji spoke before nodding to Akainu who huffed and took Kizaru's gun and the three left, hurrying to take Kizaru to the nearest doctor in town to get his arm fixed temporarily until they could return to the capital where better medicine awaited. He sighed before sheathing the swords, silent as he stood there until he felt hands resting on his shoulders and glanced back to see Sanji there.
"I'm sorry I brought those people here." he murmured, resting his forehead against the other's back. "I know they were here for me."
"They were but still, this is my land and you live in the forest which is where you belong. You are under my care until you straighten yourself out and until that happens I will protect my home and anyone that trespasses on it with ill intentions." he said. Sanji smiled against his back and nodded. "Someway, I'll repay you for your kindness, Zoro."
"You've done enough. Don't feel as if you must be indebted to me."
"Don't cross me, marimo. I will pay you back."
"You cook meals for me. Isn't that enough?"
"You're not even there for them half the time!"
"Fine, I will be after today."
"You damn well better! But I'm still going to find a way to pay you back!"
And once again, their bickering continued as they both entered into the house to relax after such an encounter.