Swords and Promises 7
I was so touched by all the reviews. Thank you for staying with me. (sniff)
One Piece is not mine.
-0-
An excuse. An excuse.
Zoro roamed the halls of the Dairi aimlessly, having no idea where the heck he was in particular. The stretches of seemingly endless floor space, buildings, and rooms all looked the same to him. Every turn brought him to another identical hallway.
Zoro was used to the feeling. The feeling of being lost.
But why he was voluntarily making himself lost was another matter entirely.
He tried to deny it, tried to push it to the very back of his mind, but it was clear as day:
He wanted to see her.
But he couldn't find a reason to. An excuse to.
The inhabitants of the palace may gush and dismiss it as true love, if you may; they were supposedly engaged and there was no problem with wanting to see your beloved, right? But it wasn't everyone else that he was worried about. It was Tashigi. What excuse did he have for wanting to see her? What would he tell her? Especially after last night…
He had it bad; that morning, he had feigned sleep so that he could watch her with one eye cracked open, while she did her morning ritual of preparing his clothes. He had no heart to speak to her, self-conscious as he was about his actions the day before. He tried to forget what had happened, he drowned himself in training just like he used to. Yet throughout the entire day, thoughts of her invaded him. He'd wave it away, but just as soon as he did, he'd remember the touch of her skin, or the way she smiled. And now, he was longing to catch even a glimpse of her.
He asked around, every attendant he passed mentioned something about a "fitting", whatever that was. They said that she might be tied up for the while. So he had to find this fitting. Maybe he should just start opening doors, try every single one until he found her. Would he be lucky enough?
After what probably was the hundredth hallway he had rounded, he decided to enter the next room he encountered. Maybe, just maybe, he would find her.
He decided on the first door at his right. It was a pair of wooden double doors, heavily varnished and carved throughout with a pattern of birds and flowers. His hands ran through carvings; he was startled to find that the flowers were roses. Roses. Just like the ones in her hair.
Damn it.
There goes his head again. Hopefully he'd be cured once he sees her. If he sees her…
He put his two hands on the doors and threw them open.
Soft voices filled his ears, their muted tones bouncing off the far walls of the wide room. Whispers, a faint giggle or two, and quiet sighs reached him from afar. A multitude of lamps lit the scene before him, blending with the afternoon sun from the windows, the succeeding glow brighter than the cloudless, spring day outside.
There was a figure in the center of the room, in a billowing ivory white gown. Six attendants surrounded her, their hands worked tirelessly with the hemming, sewing, and repairing of the gown, as the person in it stood patiently still. Even with the clatter of the opening doors, it took a moment for the group to notice his presence, and when they did, the room grew silent with the abrupt cut in their chatter. The figure and her attendants turned their heads towards him.
Brown eyes met his, the brown eyes he wanted to see.
It was Tashigi.
The gown she had on swirled around her like a cloud, encrusted in seed pearls and crystal beads. Intricate designs were embroidered in gold and silver thread, complementing the rich, brocaded white silk. Her hair was swept up off her face into a white headdress with pale pink peonies between its scalloped golden edges. A short gossamer veil hung from the edges, framing her face.
"Zoro…" she said, rather flustered. "You shouldn't be here…"
In all his life, he had never seen anyone look so beautiful.
As she blushed prettily behind the veil, he realized what it was.
A wedding dress.
Her wedding dress.
And he felt like he should say something, and his jaw moved up and down, but no sound came.
In his mind, the room around him dissolved into nothingness. There was nothing else there, save the two of them. Everything else was drowned out and still. He felt almost like an intruder, looking in at a precious and sacred event. To be allowed to see her like this, it must mean…
Her eyes were still on him; they beckoned to him from far away.
Her eyes…they told him that she was dressed like this for him to see.
Only for him.
She opened her mouth again, and she would tell him something…something he longed to hear…
"Taku?"
Zoro felt himself crash land into the real world with a thud. His fantasy ended abruptly, rapidly deflating like a leaky balloon.
She certainly would NOT say that to him.
He looked to his left, and the perpetrator with the unfortunate honor of having the name she uttered stood next to him. Being caught in his daydreams, he hadn't noticed his rival sneak up beside him. Apparently, he was as mesmerized by the sight of her, too; his eyes had a hazy cast to them.
"Gi-chan…" the dark-haired swordsman unstuck his tongue faster than Zoro could. "You…look like…like a dream."
"O-oh, thank you," Tashigi said.
One of the attendants wearing spectacles had crossed the room and moved to close the doors. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but please wait outside until this is finished."
"Wait," Takumi said, flinging out a hand to stop the doors. "If I may be permitted," he pleaded. "May I ask to speak with you, Gi-chan, in private? After this?"
"Oh, w-well…"
"Please? It's something important. By the Inari shrine? Remember like we used to?"
She remembered the place. They spent many days as children there, playing together.
The attendant to Tashigi's right touched her through the sleeve of her dress, jerking her out of her silence.
"O-of course…"
Takumi flashed a smile of relief. "Thank you, princess. I'll be waiting."
And he left as quickly as he came.
Zoro watched him walk away in disbelief. He was stunned at the turn of events. He was about to protest, but the attendant had her hands on the doors again.
"Please, wait outside until the end of the fitting."
And she closed the doors in his face.
-0-
"Ah, O-hime-sama, what a dilemma you have!" the attendant who had closed the doors said when she came back.
"Junko-san, what are you saying?" Tashigi asked, blinking in surprise.
"To be in the middle of two hot-blooded young men! Ah, to be young again!"
"Junko!" snapped another attendant. "Stop that! Princess, please excuse her impertinence!"
Tashigi shook her head. "That's alright, Reira, really…"
"But if you do want my opinion," continued Reira, in a whisper. "I'd go with the dark-haired one!"
Squeals and giggles erupted from the girls.
"What? No way! That Zoro is so ruggedly handsome! You should pick him, your highness!"
"Yes, I agree! I mean, he traveled all the way here for you! And you guys have been engaged from the start!"
"But Takumi has great eyes…"
The squealing started anew.
Tashigi just gamely smiled, and if it could, a giant sweatdrop would have formed on her forehead from listening to all of this. If only they knew…she thought, sadly.
-0-
Zoro waited impatiently for the fitting to be over. He stayed put right outside the door, until she had changed into her usual attire. Her gaggle of attendants escorted her out. He took the opportunity to grab her arm.
"What was that?" he asked her, in a harsh voice.
The attendants turned around, worried. Tashigi waved them away with a hand. "Please, you can all leave. I'll be fine. I'll just have a talk with him."
They made their bows and left, albeit with concerned eyes.
Zoro pulled her down the hallway as soon as they were alone. "Why did you say yes to meeting him?" he asked, heatedly.
"I-I panicked, people were watching. I couldn't say no."
"And why not?"
"Because I have to show that I'm still cordial and fair to both parties." She kept her eyes to the ground. "They may suspect a plan in the works, you know."
"And…" she started, tentatively. "Takumi is still a…a friend."
"I don't want you to see him," he said, his grip on her arm tightening painfully.
"But I already said yes! I can't leave him there waiting for me!"
"So? Let the shithead wait."
She struggled under his grip.
"Itai! Zoro, that hurts!"
"I said no!" It wasn't a request; it was an order.
Her eyes widened. He had crossed the line.
"Let go of me, Roronoa." Her tone dropped down, into an icy level.
It startled him; she hadn't called him that since coming to this island. However, he remained unruffled, and shot back: "Stop acting like a spoiled rich brat! You don't want to do this!"
"Don't you dare tell me what to do. Maybe you should remember your place, remember why you're here!"
"I'm here to protect you from him! He doesn't want you! He's just desperate, or he wants you for your money!"
She was angry now. "Isn't my money what you want, too? And what do you know? I don't need your opinion! You're just some stinking pirate!"
That cut agonizingly through him. It made him release her.
She gasped and put two hands over her mouth. Why did she say that?
After a few moments, he moved to grab her shoulder, but she evaded his grasp.
"Don't…don't try to stop me! I'm not someone that you can order around! Don't pretend that you own me!" And she turned away, and rushed down the hall.
He watched as she ran off. He stood there, stunned to silence.
She was right, after all.
-0-
Tashigi's steps echoed through the tunnel of vermilion torii gates that led to the Inari-taisha shrine.
She was feeling horrible, having said such terrible things to Zoro back in the hallway. He certainly didn't deserve something like that. For the past days, he had actually proven everything she thought of him as wrong. He was far from the evil pirate she had made him out to be. Having agreed to go along with her idiotic plans, he had to be an insanely understanding person at the very least.
Maybe this really is a bad idea…
Takumi was waiting for her at the entrance to the shrine. He smiled at her as she approached.
"I thought you wouldn't come," he said, sighing in relief.
"I said yes, didn't I?" she answered, with a smile of her own.
He motioned with his head towards the shrine, and they walked side by side towards the entrance. His hand snaked out to take her hand in his.
Tashigi swallowed. It was happening again. "So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?"
Takumi's tilted eyes looked up and down at the shrine's elaborate haiden. "This place brings back so many memories."
It was one of their favorite hide-and-seek places. There were so many nooks and crannies to hide in and explore. Once, they had used the sacred honden as a hiding place, until they were found out. The shrine has also been the site for their island's summer matsuri. They had attended that festival every year when they were children, and it was something to look forward to. There were fireworks, shows, games, and most importantly, lots of sweets and munchies for them to eat.
"I was also thinking our wedding should take place here."
"H-huh?"
Tashigi jerked her hand away from him. "Who said anything about 'our' wedding?"
Takumi just smiled. "I also wanted to get into the details, where we'd live, managing your father's business…"
"Excuse me, but you haven't won me yet! Who said I'm marrying you?" Her hands were balled into fists at her sides.
He shook his head. "Gi-chan, if you want what's best for you, you should agree with your father's decision."
She felt scandalized. "I have a say in this too! Only I can decide for myself!"
"Look, Gi-chan, you are heir to one of the biggest industries in the Grand Line. You have the power, prestige, and money that many can only aspire to. You can't just disregard that. Your father chose me because of my background and interest in his business. Together, we could take it to new heights."
"That's what you want all along! It's the business you want, and the power and money that goes along with it!"
"Tashigi, of course it's what I want," he said, holding up his hands in front of him in explanation. "I want it for both of us, for our future, and for our future family."
"What if it's not what I want for myself? Have you ever thought of that? I've chosen my path in life, there are goals I have set that I want to achieve!"
"You can't be serious. You wouldn't want to go through your entire life swinging a sword. You'll have to settle down."
"You…you wouldn't understand," she said, turning her head away from him. "Not someone who regards his swords so lightly. Zoro…he…he would never—"
"That man is a joke, toting around three swords, as if compensating for something—"
Horrified, she snapped her head back at him.
"Don't talk about him like that! You don't know him!"
"And you do? He's just a hired man to do your bidding. He's a pirate, for crying out loud."
"Yes, he's a pirate. But… he's not like a normal pirate at all." She eyes grew soft as she remembered him while he tried learning the Tea Ceremony in the span of a day, and when he listened to her when she was feeling down after her father lashed out at her. "He's honorable, and kind. He's incredibly skilled. Why, in Alabasta—"
"I don't want to hear about him."
"He…he listens to me," she continued. "He understands my dreams. And he promised to protect me."
"I can do all of that, too. And…I can learn to love you."
Then he grabbed her by the waist, his lips crashing into her own. There was no tenderness in his kiss, just his harsh, persistent lips trying to pry hers open. She fought back, vainly trying to dislodge his grip on her.
-0-
He found himself lost again.
Zoro was at the back of the palace grounds, trying futilely to find the location of the Inari shrine. Where the hell was it? There were no servants to ask for directions here, and even if he had directions, that was no guarantee of finding the place.
Right now, the path he was taking seemed like the way to the shrine. He thought he would try seeing it through the end. Maybe he would be lucky like the last time?
He reached the end of the torii gates in the path.
And then he found them.
Locked in a kiss. His arms around her waist.
The first thing his mind did was go blank.
"…"
"…"
There was a crazy, crushing feeling in his chest, something he had never known.
After the momentary pause, he felt his world darken around him, and burning rage rush in his veins.
He began unsheathing his swords.
The metallic sound was enough to draw their attention.
Tashigi saw him, and looked like she was about to cry. "Z-Zoro…"
"Unhand her." Anger seethed from his voice and from every pore in his skin.
But Takumi smirked, and made no move.
"NOW."
Takumi gave out a snort. "So you want this, huh?" He pushed Tashigi away, and began unsheathing his own pair of swords.
"No, don't…" Tashigi moved to stop them, but the two had started to charge towards each other.
As soon as he approached his opponent, Zoro felt something stab through his chest.
He looked down.
A dark blade had pierced through his heart; his own scarlet blood coursing in rivulets from the wound, staining his clothes.
What—
But just as soon as he noticed it, the blade was gone. His chest was fine.
He blinked, and he saw that Takumi's blades were still coming at him.
It was in an infinitesimal second that he recovered and blocked the attack; his neck a hair's breadth away from being lopped off.
The resulting clash of steel made them spring apart, both eager to draw a bit of breath.
Zoro was still trying to recover from the shock. What the heck was that? He patted the area where he saw the blade pierce him. There was nothing there, no blood, no blade, and no pierced flesh.
But the pain had been real.
Takumi renewed his stance, crossing his two swords in front of him. The Juuchi Fuyu glinted malevolently back at its enemy.
Such a foreboding glint.
The blade! Zoro had never encountered such intense bloodlust from a blade before. From the moment it was unsheathed, it had marked him; it wanted his blood. So the rumors about the cursed blade were true.
Zoro took his stance. He would have to finish this in one move. Who knows what greater effect his enemy's blade could have on him? He readied all three blades, just as his opponent set his attack.
"Tatsumaki!!"
"Yukikaze!!"
Zoro felt the force of not just one, but 5 imaginary blades pierce through his body. The resulting shock of pain made him cry out, and stagger slightly to the left. Takumi's attack nearly caught him, if not for his reflexes that pulled him out of the way at the last instant. But the force from the dark blades still cut through the air, its tail end catching his shoulder in its wake. It was enough to bring him down to the ground; the cut on his shoulder began to bleed.
Takumi had avoided his attack entirely, and grinning evilly, raised his swords again and prepared to strike. Zoro stood up, not bothered at all by his injury. They both started another charge, but suddenly, Takumi's steps faltered when he felt something pull him back.
"Taku, no, please stop this!" Takumi looked down. Tashigi had thrown her arms around his waist as she pressed herself to his back.
"Please…"
Zoro stopped his attack, too. He saw her arms around his enemy; saw how she held onto him.
Something in him shattered.
Takumi sheathed his swords, then turned around to look at Tashigi. She had relinquished her hold of him, and began backing away. He reached out and traced fingers down her cheek, then cupped her face. "Gi-chan…." She flinched from his touch.
"Think about what I said," Takumi told her, tilting her face up to his. She shut her eyes, refusing to look at him. It was another moment before he let go of her, then strode away, leaving them alone. She fell to her knees, a sob escaping her lips. Once he was gone, she made her way to the remaining swordsman, whose head was bowed down, dark shadows obscuring his eyes.
"Zoro! Are you ok?"
He raised his head, slowly. She had never seen his eyes hold so much anger. It frightened her to no end.
"I didn't need your help." It came out like a snarl.
She raised a hand to his shoulder, but he smacked it away roughly.
"I said I didn't need it!"
She was taken aback, hurt and confused about the entire thing. "I'm…I'm sorry…"
"What did you do?" he spat out. "Tell me! What did you do?"
"We were j-just talking…"
"Just talking? You call that talking?"
"I-I didn't kiss him!" She was panicking now. "He kissed me!"
He turned away from her.
"Zoro…please…I'm sorry! It's my fault! It's all my fault!"
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "You…you made a deal with him. That's it. You never wanted out in the first place!"
"No, Zoro! No! Don't you believe me?" She wrung her hands on his clothes.
"It must be so good to have money and be some princess!" he said, deliriously. "You can just blow off anyone you want!"
He whipped back around, grabbing her neck in a crushing grip.
"Tell me, why did you choose me, huh? Of all the people, why me?"
"I…" she choked out. His long fingers tightened around her neck.
"To rub it in my face? To get me arrested?"
"Ungh…please…"
"Why me? TELL ME!!"
This isn't Zoro. No, this is someone else…
She tried to pry off his hand, her vision clouding over from lack of air.
He released her, and she crumpled to the ground, dry hacking coughs racked her body as she struggled to gain her breath.
"I never should have believed you. I should have known…because it's you." His voice mirrored his anguish. "With that face you stole…"
She rose to her feet, unsteadily, but her eyes were defiant.
PAK!!
She slapped him, hard, on his left cheek; the blow enough to make him stagger slightly.
"After all this time, " she began, as her tears spilled onto her cheeks. "After all this time, I still don't have your trust, when I have given you all of mine! After defending you when anyone puts you down! I thought…I thought that…"
There was so much hurt in her eyes that it was painful to look at them. Pangs of guilt suddenly struck Zoro to the core.
"And this face, " she said, pointing to herself, "is mine alone! Not anyone else's!!"
She turned and ran away from him, for the second time that day.
Where are you, Zoro? she thought, brushing back her tears as she ran. The real one. The one that I know.
Zoro stood there, alone again. He fingered his cheek. The slap had hurt him more than any blade ever could.
-0-
The next chapter might be delayed. I have to take care of the chaos that is my life (my future depends on it). Sorry for leaving you hanging (but maybe I meant to do that? hehe).
Please review! I just might get inspired to write sooner! (smile)
Culture Notes:
In a traditional Shinto wedding, the bride wears a white wedding kimono dress called shiro-maku (shiro means white, maku means pure/innocent). The uchikake is the outermost part of the wedding kimono, usually in heavy silk brocade. It is worn as a sort of coat, so the obi is not tied over it. It is heavily padded at the hem because it is supposed to trail on the floor. It may be white or very colorful, with red as a base color (red symbolizes happiness). The bride also usually wears a stylized wig decorated with golden accessories and decorations that resemble a spike, symbolizing fertility. She may also wear a white hat named tsunokakushi, which is worn to hide the bride's horns of jealousy, ego, and selfishness. For Tashigi's dress, I kept it pure white, with heavy embroidery and beading that shows her status. Her headdress is a combination of the traditional white boat-like cap worn with the wig and the tsunokakushi hat. Here, she uses her own hair. I just added the veil for effect. I'll make a drawing of this soon. (happy smile)
Torii – traditional Japanese gate found at the entry to a Shinto shrine. It may also be found in Buddhist temples. It has two upright supports and two crossbars on the top, and is usually painted vermilion (orange-red). Some torii have tablets with writing mounted between the crossbars. Traditionally, torii are made of wood or stone, but now, steel is also utilized. Torii mark the transition from the sacred (the shrine) to the profane (the normal world).
Inari-taisha – based on the real Fushimi Inari-tashai shrine, the head shrine of Inari, located at Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The shrine sits on the base of Mt. Inari. It is famous for its entrance to the Inner shrine, which is lined by thousands of torii gates.
Matsuri – 'festival' or 'holiday', usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple
Haiden – hall of worship, with seats for worshippers
Honden – 'sanctuary', area where the kami, or deity is enshrined
Tatsumaki – literally 'tornado', translates as 'Dragon twister', one of Zoro's attacks, first used on Hachi in the Arlong park arc. He uses three swords to create a spiral current. It also has been used in a swordless style form. One of his most powerful attacks, it was used to break through Tekkai in the Enies Lobby arc. How did Takumi evade this attack? It's a combination of factors (smile).
Yukikaze – literally 'snowy wind'. Takumi's attack wherein the two swords are crossed in front, then slashed simultaneously outward to create an expanding arcing slash. Borrowed from the name of the Japanese kagero-class destroyer warship in World War II.