One Piece Fan Fiction ❯ Catch Me If You Can ❯ Tashigi's fall ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I do not own `One Piece'……..damn it!

 

A/n: Wow it's been a while. I promise it was not writers block because my ideas are flowing fine, but I'm in a huge rush to find a good full time job (which isn't going well) because me and my boyfriend just recently got engaged. *Squeals with joy* Wish me luck!

 

I've actually gotten a little bit of none aggressive heat about the lecture Zoro give Tashigi, people saying that it was too intense and out of character for him, but I beg to differ. If anyone's out of character I think its Tashigi which I wish to make amends to. I know she's a lot more polite and serious. I think after writing for a character like Bulma from DBZ for so long you kinda get attached to the bitchy princess. Anyways about Zoro's lecture I've seen many an episode where Zoro faces a certain enlightenment and talks even intellectually. I don't believe Zoro's book smart, and maybe not `street smart' but he's defiantly not dumb when it comes to his craft. He obviously knows all the inns and outs of it and I wanted to show that..……I'm done….lol Enjoy the story!

 

I also found out recently that there is a difference between Katanas and swords…Forgive me that's my bad. I'll try and make myself call them katanas for good now.

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Catch Me If You Can

 

The last thing Zoro remembered was leaning his head against the cool glass of the window from his chair, having finished his meal. Tashigi was taking her time on her pancakes, a red blush stained on her cheeks. He must have fallen asleep. “So much for being alert 24/7.” Zoro thought gravely.

 

 

“What are we going to do first?” Tashigi asked quietly.

 

 

Zoro inwardly groaned. Didn't she know not to ask question's the second a man opened his eyes? “We need a boat.”

 

 

“We don't have money for a boat.”

 

 

“Where not gonna buy a boat.”

 

 

“Well, than were back to stage one already.”

 

 

Tashigi didn't seem to catch what Zoro had meant so he decided not to ruin it. “I'll figure something out.”

 

 

“I need glasses” Tashigi ran her hands through her hair silky black hair wishing she could she just how horrible she looked.

 

 

“You're just as beautiful without them.”

 

 

This shut Tashigi up a bit

 

 

Zoro waved over the waiter, produced a gold coin from his pocket, and flipped it into the air as the waiter past. The waiter caught it and continued on past them.

 

 

“Wait here Tashigi.” Zoro announced then abruptly left the restaurant.

 

 

Tashigi's eyes widened. The idiot had left her unprotected on a pirate island. She calmed herself. “I just need to stay aware. I'll be fine.” Tashigi thought. She glanced around and noted that few eyes were on her. Catching the eyes of one ruthless looking pirate in particular she slid her hand across that table and grabbed the butter knife and dragged it back under the table out of view. The man shook his head and looked away focusing back on his food.

 

 

“I think I know that guy.” Tashigi examined a man with no manners piling down bucket loads of food. “Frini…” “Frini!” Tashigi called out to see if he'd look up.

He did. He watched her uncertain.

 

 

Tashigi stood, broad smile on her face, and walked toward him. People shoved out of her way hesitant of what she would do with the knife she still clutched in her hand.

 

 

Realization stuck Frini's features. “My lord Tashigi. What are you doing here?”

 

 

Tashigi's grin sobered immediately. She looked behind her to see if Zoro had reappeared yet. “I've been kidnapped by a pirate.” She whispered harshly. “You've got to help me.”

 

 

“I…I can't.” He set down his utensils and gulped down a sip of water still watching her and the knife almost nervously.

 

 

“Why not?” She lowered her voice. “You're a spy for the marines you have to have connections somehow. Alert Captain Smoker and let him know where I am.”

 

 

“Again Tashigi I can't.”

 

 

“Why the hell not!”

 

 

“I'm wanted.”

 

 

“No…”

 

 

“I'm a pirate now Tashi.”

 

 

“You have to help me!” Tashigi subconsciously swung the knife around and the waiter swiftly dodged it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

 

 

Frini grabbed her hand to try and stop the motions. “You have to get out of here Tashi. There's no other marines with you are there?” He looked around suspiciously.

 

 

“No…” Tashigi thought. “He used to be one of the stealthiest spies the marines held. A people person by far he could get a mute to speak like a parrot on caffeine, or so a few of the marines said.” Tashigi noted his weight gain and greasiness, defiantly a huge difference from the fit handsome man he used to be. She used to have a childhood crush on him when she was a little girl, one of her role models. “Did you even hear what I just said about being kidnapped?”

 

 

“Because if there is…”

 

 

“Because if there is what? You'll die of a heart attack from all the fat your eating?” Tashigi gapped at the pile of hamburgers and fried food half eaten in front of him. “What happened to you?” It was as if he was slowly changing before her eyes as she kept noticing something different about him every time she blinked.

 

 

“Tashi…”

 

 

“Don't call me that! It's Tashigi! Sergeant Major Tashigi!”

 

 

“Sergeant.” He mock saluted and it was the end of the line for her.

 

 

Tashigi punched him knocking him off the stool he was on and to the ground. He stayed unconscious. She immediately regretted it. “What's wrong with me? When did I become such a loud mouth bitch? It's because of that Zoro.” Tashigi felt a head ache coming and pressed her way through the gathering crowd to the front doors rubbing her temples. “Its time to start over, take charge, make it out of this alive with my dignity attached.” She heard some applause behind her that cut off when the door swung shut.

 

 

When she lifted her head she saw Zoro headed up the path towards the restaurant. “I will agree to this union in order to come out of this intact and when the marines finally get to me I'll turn him in.” She looked at Zoro once more and he smirked at her. She felt like she someone squeezed the air out of her lungs. “But that would be dishonorable and I'd be lying….well not exactly. It would only be breaking promise with him if I didn't help him find The Straw Hat Pirates first.”

 

 

Zoro was only a few feet away as she decided. “Alright. For saving my life I'll go along with this. If anything I can do some spy work while with him. Scope out some bases, learn more about the Grand line. Maybe get his swords from him and take them into better hands.”

 

 

Tashigi then noticed his hands as he stopped in front of her. His left arm rested on the ends of the three Katanas. His right hand fiddled with the end of the beautiful white one, Wado Ichimonyi. He has such perfectly crafted hands, his hands alone told countless stories of his sword play. She almost asked him to tell, but snapped her mouth shut.

 

 

“What's going on in there?” Zoro lean a little to one side to see behind her.

 

 

Tashigi snapped back to the scene. “Um…uh…..nothing important.” She stepped forward to get further away from the door and apologize to Zoro for her attitude, her head still pounding. She completely missed the small step right in front of her and fell to her knees. “You could have tried to help me!” She groaned.

 

 

“It looks like there was a fight?” Zoro peered in through the window. “You didn't get hurt did you?”

 

 

“No…”

 

 

“You fell.”

 

 

“Yes.” Tashigi stood on her own. “Mr. Obvious.” She added in her head, then groaned angry with herself for getting upset again. She sighed in defeat. “Let's just go…” Tashigi started down the path Zoro came from not exactly sure where she was going.

 

 

Zoro took one last brief look into the window then followed to catch up with Tashigi. He walked directly beside her. The path was narrow enough that their arms nicked every now and then.

 

 

“What's the plan?” Tashigi asked.

 

 

“We take a boat, leave the island, find my Nakama.” Zoro simplified.

 

 

“How will we get a boat?”

 

 

“I told you to leave that to me.” Zoro sideways glanced at her. “Now what's wrong?”

 

 

Tashigi's head snapped up and she removed her hand from her temples. “Nothing!” She said sounding surprised. “Suck it up Tashigi, don't look so weak.”

 

 

“Don't think I'm stupid Zoro I know how you pirates work.”

 

 

“Do you?” Zoro humored.

 

 

“Is the marina this way?”

 

 

“Yes, if you just look straight ahead.” Zoro pointed down the little hill towards the water and the docks.

 

 

Tashigi looked down his arm, but stopped there noticing yet another scar on his well tanned forearm. She bit her tongue to keep from commenting. “Yea, I see.”

 

 

They walked in silence the rest of the way. Zoro led her next to the boat he picked out. Tashigi was impressed. It looked like a nice cheap boat, at least cheaper then almost any other boat she saw so far, about the size of a small house, that would perfectly accommodate two people. She couldn't wait to get on board and check out the interior. It was a newer model and looked very simple to steer. Not only did it look perfectly sturdy, but it was built to hold up nice and tight through the grand line's unpredictable weather, an easily maneuvered boat.

 

 

“Wow Zoro, this is a perfect pick. Was there a previous owner or is it brand new. It looks quite fresh.”

 

 

Zoro shrugged.

 

 

“Great job picking this one out!” Tashigi complimented.

 

 

“I liked it because it was the only one with a crows nest on it.”

 

 

Tashigi's large grin faltered.

 

 

“I really wanted that one 2 boats down but I need to have a crows nest.”

 

 

Tashigi ignored his oblivious remark and jumped onto the boat to get a feel for it. She ran below deck to check out the rooms. She found the kitchen first, small but comfortable it was well stocked with fresh food. Tashigi secretly loved to cook on her spare time so she wasn't worried about needing a cook. She took a few steps further down the hall and came to the next door, a bathroom. Tashigi felt her stomach drop, there was only one door left down here which only meant one thing. She felt the boat shift meaning Zoro was launching out, but she was to nervously preoccupied to really think into it. She checked the last door, a single cabin, one bed.

 

 

“Wait a minute!” Tashigi realized. “The kitchen's well stocked? He was only gone about ten minutes…meaning this is someone's boat.” Tashigi took off up the stairs.

 

 

“Zoro!” Tashigi spin around trying to locate him and she did behind the steer. “Zoro the kitchen! This is someone's boat isn't it. It's completely fresh stocked.”

 

 

Zoro raised his eyebrows. He hadn't even thought about food…well, thank God then. “The owner must have gone through the trouble of stocking it for us while I left to find you.” He fibbed. “Hey, it's not as if I'm saying he DID stock it.” Zoro comforted his thoughts, he really did hate lying.

 

 

“Really?”

 

 

“Sure.”

 

 

“What about money? You said you didn't have enough.” Tashigi looked back at the Pirate town as it shrunk in the distance. They were moving at a good pace.

 

 

“Don't worry. I gave the marina official an offer he couldn't refuse.” Zoro mentally got a picture of the bloke laying on the ground of his cabin out cold.

 

 

Tashigi contemplated that for a while. “What did you give him?” She continued to dig.

 

 

“A stone.” Zoro quipped.

 

 

“Oh, you had a ruby? Or was it a diamond? I wish I could have seen it.” Tashigi drowned in her own thoughts.

 

 

And Zoro was happy for it. He had given the guy a stone…or at least used one to knock him out…same thing. He hadn't had time to go and out it with the guy. He felt kind of shameful for using such low methods but it did get the job done and gave Tashigi a good excuse to help her sleep at night. Zoro smiled, but it didn't last long. He realized then that he had forgotten an log pose. He had no idea where he was going.

 

 

“I brought a map.” Tashigi stepped up to the steer. “The weathers perfect and the winds blowing steady so you don't need to nurse the wheel for a while yet.”

 

 

“But without a log pose…”

 

 

“We don't need one until the next island. Were gonna need to find a way to make money though.”

 

 

“It shouldn't be so hard.”

 

 

“I hope so.” Tashigi narrowed her eyes at him. “One bed!”

 

 

Zoro jumped at her exclamation. “What?”

 

 

“There's only one bed in the cabin.”

 

 

“And.”

 

 

“And?” Tashigi asked incredulously. Nervous she took a step down the steps to the front of the ship. “Does he mean he's going to force me to share a bed with him? Never!”

 

 

“Tashigi. Careful!” Zoro started after her when he saw her impending fall down the stairway.

 

 

“Don't touch me!” She jumped backwards when Zoro's hand reached out to grab her arm. He still got a hold of her, but now he was perfectly unbalanced.

 

 

Both of them tumbled down the rest of the staircase, but Zoro used most of his body to break all of her fall. She ended up on top of him, but swiftly jumped up and away from him.

 

 

Zoro grunted in pain and pulled the sharp edge of one of his Katana hilts away from his side. That was going to leave a massive bruise. It took him two tries to sit up, but he was happy to know that nothing was broken. “The beds not a problem Tashigi.” He added breathy. “I have no problem sleeping…really wherever.” He waved a hand as if ending the discussion. “The bed's yours.”

 

 

Tashigi took a step towards him. “I…thank you.”

 

 

Zoro gazed at her. “Word of advice Tashigi don't thank a pirate. You might start to like them.”

 

 

Tashigi sobered from her heartfelt confession. Her mouth dropped when he winked at her then stood up with a little help from the side of the boat.

 

 

“I…I'm going to make food.” Tashigi rushed below deck trying to run from her blush.

 

 

Zoro shook his head watching her back as she ran. He started to walk towards the mass to lean against for a much needed nap when he heard the tumble down the stairs. He ran towards the entrance to the stairway before he heard Tashigi's own breathy words.

 

 

“I'm okay. Really.”

 

 

Zoro rubbed his eyes, leaned against the door frame than laughed.

 

That night Zoro made himself comfortable in the crows nest and fell into a deep sleep.

 

 

Tashigi on the other hand had only tossed and turned under the covers so far. She couldn't help but think how she could lay in bed all cozy and warm and he would sleep like a….well like a pirate. She rested her arm over her eyes trying to get his discomfort out of her mind. He disserved it didn't he? He deceived her and tricked her…and held her…..kissed her.

 

 

Tashigi reached for the ice pack she had made for her ankle when she fell only to find the ice melted. She winced when she removed the covers from her legs and set them flat on the ground. Hobbling down to get some fresh ice she noticed that the temperature had dropped dramatically, needless to say she got worried again.

 

 

After refreshing her ice she grabbed two blankets and a pillow and headed up to the deck. She would show him that she could be just as tough as he could. Being a woman didn't mean she needed comfort.

 

 

When she finally and painfully made it to the deck she found that Zoro had transferred himself to sleep against the boats side in a sitting position. “How does he sleep sitting up?”

 

 

She realized why he made the move when a gust of chilly air blew her hair behind her. She looked up at the crows nest. “I can only wonder how it is up there.”

 

 

She opened one of the blankets and threw it onto Zoro trying to get it to where it would work best without touching him. After she did so she could only take this chance to stare at him. He was so peaceful he almost looked dead. His short hair barely moved when a small sweep from a breeze tousled his blanket.

 

 

“Green hair.” Tashigi's mind wandered. “Who in the world has natural green hair.”

 

 

Tashigi got onto her knees with a small wince and tucked the blanket in tighter so the wind couldn't move it.

 

 

She checked the wheel to make sure it was still going steady and looked to the stars to check their direction. It was a wonderfully clear night, a waning gibbous high in the sky giving just enough light to the deck.

 

 

She hopped silently over to the opposite side of the deck and made herself comfortable leaning against the side board. Directly across from her she could see Zoro's handsome figure half drenched in moonlight. She looked at her pillow then over at Zoro and instead of using it for her head laid her throbbing ankle onto it and laid the ice bag onto of it.

 

 

She stayed like that for almost an hour watching Zoro sleep until he started snoring. Giggling she had to cover her mouth to keep from being loud even though she already could tell what a heavy sleeper he was. She continued to watch him as he grew silent again and as the air started to warm she also drifted into a deep sleep.

 

 

 

 

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A/n: I hope this was long enough to hold you guy over for a little bit. Also again I'm sorry I don't really know the names of the structure of a boat. I know a lot of words but not what they are. If anyone has the time and feels like it could you please let me know (on a review or even an email) what the different things are. (Such as starboard, port…and the likes.)

 

 

 

In the next chapter: Zoro and Tashigi start there adventures to different Islands and must find different ways of making money. At least for Tashigi's sake Zoro has to. Things are going start heating up.

 

 

 

 

~Iceis~