Chapter 20: I don't own One Piece

I did consider calling this chapter a number of different names. Like 'Pirate's spit' , 'Mouth Wash at the Sand Cafe' , 'The one thing Zoro can't handle' or 'The Pirates' Sprint', but I just couldn't make up my mind. So I went with something entirely different that described the Chapter best.

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Tashigi's Heart: Rainbase Chase.

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After arranging desert transport we left for Rainbase due to the Captain orders. Well, I as the Sergeant Major lead the Group inland, but the Captain decided that he didn't like the idea of riding on one the creepy-looking camels so he materialized his bike out of the storage area on the ship.

I could have got anger that the Captain had had the time to drag in and box the gas burner of a bike, instead of making sure that there was more room for food storage. However I simply accepted it, and we prepared for the journey to Rainbase.

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We had arrived in the Casino city of Rainbase the day before yesterday, and we had made sure that he had brought and organized as many Marines as possible. But nothing was happening. No Strawhat, no Zoro, there was no sign of pirates here. There were plenty of the rich and famous who came to spend and make more unnecessary money, but all the unsavory characters seemed to be a bit to smart for their own good and we didn't see any of them.

I didn't think the day would come that I would find myself disliking the sun. We had been walking all morning and I found myself getting light headed and dehydrated so the Captain and I decided to drop into a cafe for a drink. The name was extremely imaginative, 'Sand Cafe', I mean, come on! Is that the best they could do. Apart from that the bar was comfortable enough to sit at, and the fan was working which was an added bonus so we ordered two rounds. I had some fresh and tasty cold water, and the Captain had something less desirable or healthy. It doesn't matter where he is. I say it would be almost impossible for the Captain to ever take a healthy option in anything. He smokes, he drinks, he would prefer to be burning petrol on his bike rather than trying out the local form of transportation. But despite all of his shortcomings I still found myself trusting and admiring his decisions and asking for his opinions in all our different circumstances.

He had been quiet no for quite some time. He wasn't complaining about the smell of Camel in the city, or how many slackers were in the city. And when he is not complaining you know he is letting his mind wonder on what is important. And that would have to be the Pirates we were searching for. "Captain Smoker? Why do you think they will be here? What reason would the Strawhats have for coming to Rainbase?"

The Captain took another swig of his pint of … I can't remember what it was. "Let's just call it a hunch." He Growled. Some very loud customers came in just then, and were yelling for water. So I had to lean in closer to catch what he was trying to say. How can people find the energy in all this heat to be so loud?

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but something stinks." Okay, so maybe he is back to his complaining. "I just feel like there is something big lurking in the shadows." Was he referring to this Mr. Zero or the Strawhats? I wonder if they had arranged something that got out of hand, and now Strawhat Luffy had come back for revenge. But he was still a kid, Was he the type of person who would hold a grudge and take revenge. Why would a crime lord want anything to do with Luffy? And if Mr. Zero was after Luffy, Why was Luffy after Crocodile like Smoker said he was?

"So then you really do believe then that there is some sort of connection between the baroque works crime organization and the Strawhats crew?"

"The only thing I know for sure is that Strawhat is out to get Crocodile, one of the seven warlords of the sea." Smoker finished, and turned to look to his right, something caught his eye. I still can't believe that such a young pirate like Luffy would try to go after someone as important and protected like Crocodile. It seems like suicide.

I lifted my mug to drink again, when I notice the Captain staring at two scruffy wanderers. What did the... wait a second... I adjusted my glasses on my nose just a bit to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but it was real. There was the REAL Strawhat Luffy with one of his other crew mates at the bar drinking water. I had never seen this one before.

They were dressed up in the Alabasta clothing and looked like ragged walkers that had been dying of thirst, and from the way they were gulping down the water from the humongous barrels they had just ordered, one would say that was pretty close to the mark. They also smelt like they had spent to much time baking out in the sun, tracking through who knows what.

The once casual glance turned into an awkward moment as both of our groups came to the realization that the other had seen and acknowledged them. There they sat just one meter away. Their once satisfied full mouths emptied in shock as they spat their water straight at us.

"Run Away!" yelled Luffy, "Protect the water!"

"Damn it!" Smoker got up immediately. "We're going after them. Get the marines Tashigi."

"Sir!" I confirmed while wiping my face down. I can't believe it! A pirate's mouth load of water has been dosed on me. I turned back to the counter. "All right," I pulled my wallet, how had they got that wet too?! "How much do I own you?"

The bar woman was mopping down her drenched counter-top. "If you know those brats you had better add all the water they took to your tab!" she replied angrily.

"Of course, I'm so sorry." It was not fare that pirates, left, right, and centre thought they could get away with stealing water. Especially in a desert kingdom like this one where water was extremely scarce. It was just unkind.

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I finished up at the cafe as fast as I could and relayed the orders to every one of the units. Before long we had found the rest of them and had them on the run. When they split up it was slightly hard keeping track of them. Having on local disguises made it easier for them to hide.

I had almost given up hope in finding them within the hour, and I came across another incident by accident. I came into the centre of town and was shocked by the crowd gathered. There seemed to be a lot of commotion in the middle. And I heard a voice that had been haunting me since LogTown.

I heard a mocking jeer, and a man laughing in harsh mirth. "This that all. Really? Pathetic!" He called out to the crowd that was surrounding him as if daring them to attack again. There were piles of dead bodies that had been cut up and dropped infront of him. I hardly recognized him, and it was no wonder. He was wearing a zebra-like patterned cloak and a salmon pink/orange head scarf. If he had said nothing I wouldn't have recognized him either.

However his three swords at his side were a dead give away. "Rowanoa Zoro!" I called out, "I knew we would meat again. I've been looking for you."I had been, but I wasn't expecting to find him doing this. I thought he was at least slightly more honourable. People do change I suppose. Pirates don't value life. "What do you think your doing carelessly cutting down civilians like that. That's low even for you!"

He turned around to face me, "Look, I had my own reasons for doing it, alright!" What are trying to do justify your disgusting actions. That you just cut down 20 people in self defense. Yeah right? "Besides I have absolutely no desire to fight you again. We settled are dispute FINE in LogueTown!" He sheathed his swords and started to turn away from me.

"We did not!" I yelled. What was he saying? Did he forget what I told him that day? Or was he still the sort of man who thought that women weren't worth fighting. "I'm not through, I haven't even dealt you a single blow!" I lifted up Shigure and started to pull her out of the Sheath. I need to accomplish this, or die trying. No Pirate should be aloud to get away without paying for their crimes.

He just stood there for a few minutes staring at me, and waiting. He covered his face as if he was fighting a migraine and then as if a fit of madness hit him he yelled. "... PUT THAT DAMN FACE OF YOURS AWAY! WILL YOU!"

Ok? WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT? "What did you say! Are You insulting me! That's a really pathetic tactic! Even for you!" All the nervousness of meeting him again faded away as my hate for him came to the surface. He hates my face does he? I hate his entire being. "I'll make you pay!"

"No way! You're the one person I can't handle!" huh? What did that mean? and with that he turned around and ran as fast as he could. Away from me. I hadn't even considered this a possibility. Zoro running away? He never ran away. Did he?

"H … hold it!" I paused in shock then sprinted after him.

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Yes! Tashigi and Zoro have met up again at last! When I was watching this for the first time in the anime I was really excited and thrilled when they at last, came across one another. What makes this chapter so funny is that Tashigi has been preparing herself for another intense dual and fight against the now famous pirate Zoro, and the first thing he does is to tell her to put her face away, and then to sprint off as far away from her as possible. I don't know about you, but I find that really funny, and if I was Tashigi I would probably be very offended as well.

Zoro! she has crossed the seas and oceans in search of you. Can't you do her the honour of spending time with her.

:D