The efficiency of Marine Captain Smoker's ship was something to behold. Men and women in uniform walked the deck in orderly lines. The floors and walls were spotless, scrubbed to a level that made the grain of the wood almost shine.
It was well cared for, to say the least.
Upon boarding, Luffy was approached by a woman with dark blue hair. She was, in fact, the subject of his and Zoro's conversation the previous day. Tashigi.
With an amicable smile, he waved a greeting.
"Yo, Tashigi-san."
She smiled politely back, and returned the greeting, offering her hand.
"Hello, Luffy-san, I believe this is the first time we've met."
He shook her hand firmly, and continued smiling.
"It is, but I've read yours and Smoker's file I got from gramps. I was impressed."
She blushed slightly from the praise. The idea that the Vice Admiral Garp had noticed her and Smoker was crazy.
"Thank you," She replied, returning to her normal composure, "Are you here to see Captain Smoker?"
"Both of you actually."
That took her off guard.
"I actually have a few things to discuss with you both. "
Tashigi nodded, gesturing for him to follow.
"Of course. Captain Smoker should be in his office."
The two began making their way across the deck.
For a few moments, Luffy simply took in the ship around him. The Marines moved with a discipline that was noticeably different from the chaos he'd seen at most pirate bases. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they needed to be.
Then Luffy glanced at Tashigi.
"So, you're a swordsman too, right?"
Tashigi blinked.
"I am, yes."
"I thought so."
Luffy grinned.
"I noticed the sword."
His eyes briefly dropped to the weapon at her hip.
"And you kind of got that whole 'swordsman aura' about you."
Tashigi instinctively rested a hand against the hilt of her sword, Shigure.
"I've been practicing since I was young. Swordsmanship has always been important to me."
"What's your goal?"
That question seemed to catch her by surprise.
"My goal?"
"Yeah."
Tashigi adjusted her glasses before answering.
"I want to reclaim every famous sword that has fallen into the hands of people who would use them for evil."
Her voice carried a quiet determination now.
"There are countless renowned blades scattered throughout the world. Many of them are wielded by criminals, pirates, and people who have no respect for what those swords represent. I want to find them and take them away from those people."
Luffy's grin widened.
"That's a pretty big dream."
"Yes."
"You've got a lot of work ahead of you, then."
Tashigi gave a small, almost embarrassed smile.
"I know."
They continued down the deck.
After a moment, Tashigi glanced toward him.
"Though... I suppose there are some who would say it's an unrealistic goal for a woman."
Luffy stopped.
Tashigi took another step before realizing he wasn't beside her anymore. She turned around.
Luffy's expression had changed.
The easygoing smile was gone.
"Why?"
Tashigi hesitated.
"Because... well, swordsmanship is a difficult path. And there aren't many famous female swordsmen."
Luffy stared at her for a moment.
"Does that matter?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"Whether you're a guy or a girl."
Tashigi opened her mouth, but Luffy continued.
"Gramps taught me something."
He folded his arms behind his head as they resumed walking.
"He says strength isn't about what you look like. It's about what your body and your will can do."
His expression became thoughtful.
"That's what Haki is, right? Your will. Your spirit."
Tashigi listened quietly.
"Garp says that, in the end, Haki is one of the truest measures of power on the sea. Doesn't matter if you're a Marine, a pirate, a man, or a woman."
He glanced toward her.
"Look at Vice Admiral Gion."
Garp, or perhaps more likely Bogard, had provided a general summary of Marine forces as well as info on some notable figures.
Tashigi's eyes widened slightly.
"Vice Admiral Gion?"
"Yeah. She's one of the strongest Marines out there. She's already a candidate for Admiral."
Luffy shrugged.
"And then there's Hancock."
He said the name casually, as though it were obvious.
"She's a pirate, but she's strong enough that everybody knows her name."
Tashigi nodded slowly.
"Even among the yonko, one of the emperors is Big Mom."
Luffy grinned again.
"So I don't really see what being a woman has to do with it."
Tashigi was silent for several seconds.
Luffy looked ahead, his expression brightening again.
"If you want to become strong enough to take those swords away from bad people, then get strong enough to do it."
He gave her a broad grin.
"Your options get even wider if you're willing to combine other powers with your swordsmanship."
Tashigi looked at him.
"You mean like devil fruits?"
Luffy grinned, but she could see a hit of something secretive there.
"Among other things."
For some reason, these simple words struck harder than she expected.
She looked down at her sword.
Then back at Luffy.
"...You're a strange person, Luffy-san."
"Shishishi! I've been told that before."
And with that, the seriousness vanished from his face as quickly as it had appeared.
Ahead of them, a door came into view.
Tashigi reached for the handle.
"This is Captain Smoker's office."
Opening the door, they were immediately engulfed in a massive cloud of smoke so dense it hit them like a physical blow.
To her credit, Tashigi walked through with little to no reaction.
Luffy wasn't nearly as composed. He hadn't been expecting it at all, immediately losing his composure and devolving into a coughing fit.
Seconds passed before the room cleared of smoke and he was able to breath easily again.
Looking up, Smoker was watching with a single raised eyebrow, while Tashigi elegantly covered a smirk and a small giggle with her hand.
"She did that on purpose." he thought with amusement.
Smoker took another drag from one of his cigars, watching Luffy recover.
"Finished?"
Luffy coughed once more before wiping his mouth.
"Yeah."
He pointed accusingly at the cigar.
"You've got a problem."
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
"You're not the first to say so."
Tashigi finally allowed herself a small laugh.
Luffy looked at her.
"You knew that was going to happen."
"I may have had some idea."
"Traitor."
Tashigi smiled innocently.
Smoker leaned back in his chair.
"So," His tone shifted, returning to business, "you said you had something to discuss with both of us."
"Yep."
Luffy pulled out the chair opposite Smoker's desk and sat down.
Tashigi moved to stand beside her captain.
Luffy's expression became more serious.
"It's about Nami."
Smoker's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The navigator that called us?"
"Yeah."
Luffy nodded, "More specifically, about her home island."
That was enough to wipe the last traces of amusement from Tashigi's face.
Luffy took a breath.
"Her village is called Cocoyasi. It's in the Conomi Islands."
He paused.
"About eight years ago, a fishman pirate named Arlong showed up there and took over."
Tashigi's expression tightened.
"Arlong?"
"Yeah."
Luffy looked down at his hands.
"He killed Nami's mother, a retired marine officer, because she couldn't pay the protection money he demanded."
Tashigi's eyes widened.
Smoker's cigar paused halfway to his mouth.
Luffy continued.
"He found out Nami was good at drawing maps, so he forced her to work for him. Told her that if she could gather one hundred million berries, he'd leave her village alone."
Tashigi's face slowly fell.
"She was just a child…"
"Yeah."
Luffy's voice was quieter now.
"She spent years stealing and robbing pirates to get the money. She thought if she could just pay him, he'd finally let everyone go."
Smoker's expression hardened.
"The word of a pirate is nothing."
Luffy nodded. "He was lying, but she had nothing else to hope for…"
He sighed, shaking his head as he reached the part of the story that would undoubtedly anger them the most.
"She's close now, but she has reason to believe the local Marine branch is in league with the fishmen."
Smoker's eyes narrowed.
"Which Marines?"
"The 16th branch."
The room went quiet.
Tashigi looked between them, the disgust on her face was clear, as was the simmering anger in Smoker's eyes.
"Nezumi?" His cigar lowered slowly, threatening to break under his gradually clenching fist. "Are you certain?"
"Nami is."
Luffy nodded.
"She says she's seen Marine ships from the Sixteenth Branch docked at the pirate base, Arlong Park."
Smoker's jaw tightened.
"Arlong Park." The nerve of naming a pirate stronghold galled him. It suggested permanence.
"How long?"
"Eight years."
Smoker's expression darkened further.
"Eight…"
He stopped himself.
His fingers tightened around the cigar.
"Eight years of a pirate crew occupying a civilian settlement."
His voice was low.
"And the Marines assigned to the area have apparently been looking the other way."
Tashigi looked horrified.
"If that's true…"
She shook her head.
"Those people have been living under pirates for eight years."
Luffy nodded.
"That's why I'm going there."
Smoker looked directly at him.
"To Cocoyasi."
"Yep."
"And you intend to take on an entire pirate crew."
"Yep."
Smoker stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
"You're definitely Garp's grandson."
Luffy grinned.
"Thanks."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'm counting it."
Tashigi shook her head, but there was a faint smile on her face.
Smoker leaned forward.
"What exactly are you proposing?"
"A joint strike."
Luffy pointed toward the map on Smoker's desk.
"My crew goes to Cocoyasi and deals with Arlong and his pirates."
His finger moved toward the location of the Sixteenth Branch.
"You take your men there."
Smoker immediately understood.
"You want me to tie down the branch."
"Exactly."
Luffy nodded.
"If Nezumi and his people really are working with Arlong, they'll probably try to interfere once we attack."
Smoker's expression became cold.
"Then they won't."
Luffy grinned.
"You'll handle the official Marine business with the rat, and we'll hit the fishmen hard enough they forget how to swim!"
Smoker leaned back.
It was a remarkably simple plan, but, annoyingly, it was solid.
"If Garp is willing to put his name behind you…"
He glanced at Luffy.
"…then I suppose a little fish like Arlong and his cronies shouldn't pose a real threat."
Luffy's grin widened.
"Shishishi, Gramps said the same thing."
"Don't compare me to Garp."
Tashigi smiled.
Smoker ignored her.
"I'll take my men to the Sixteenth Branch. If Nezumi is involved, I'll make sure he can't send anyone to interfere."
His eyes hardened.
"And if I find out he's been protecting pirates…"
The cigar between his teeth shifted.
"Then I'll make sure he leaves in chains."
Luffy nodded.
"Sounds good."
The most important part was settled, or at least the part Smoker had expected.
Tashigi, however, noticed that Luffy hadn't stood up.
He was looking at her.
She blinked.
"What?"
Luffy grinned.
"I've got another thing to talk about."
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
Luffy pointed at Tashigi.
"Her."
Tashigi stared at him, pointing a confused finger at her own face, "Me?"
"Yep."
Smoker slowly lowered his cigar.
"I have a feeling I'm not going to like where this is going."
Luffy ignored him.
"Tashigi is strong."
Tashigi blinked at the compliment.
"I can tell. She has good instincts, and she's serious about becoming stronger."
He leaned back in the chair.
"But…"
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"She hasn't seen much of the world."
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"You want to collect all those famous swords, right?"
"Yes."
"You're going to have to travel to find them."
Tashigi paused.
"Well…"
Luffy spread his hands, interrupting to continue his sales pitch.
"So travel."
Smoker and Tashigi stared at him, not quite understanding what he was asking.
Luffy grinned.
"And if you're going to travel, then I graciously volunteer to let you sail with us."
Silence.
Smoker's eyebrow twitched.
"You what?"
Luffy just grinned smugly, like everything was going exactly as planned.
"You're inviting my subordinate onto your ship."
"Yep."
"Why?"
Luffy began counting on his fingers.
"First, we're backed by Vice Admiral Garp, so we're Marine-approved."
Smoker opened his mouth, but Luffy again cut him off with another raised finger.
"Second, we're obviously good people."
Smoker stared at him.
"Obviously?"
"Yeah, we just helped rebuild Orange Town!"
Tashigi nodded slowly. That was, in fact, a fair point.
"Third," Luffy continued, "you'll get to travel around the world."
He raised another finger.
"You'll get to see all kinds of swords."
Another.
"And…"
He pointed toward himself.
"You'll have a swordsman to train against."
Tashigi's eyes shifted toward him.
" Roronoa Zoro?"
"Yep."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"That would certainly be useful."
Luffy grinned.
"See?" He spread his arms. "It's the perfect situation."
Smoker rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"You've clearly been thinking about this."
"Since yesterday."
Tashigi looked at him in surprise.
"Yesterday?"
Luffy's grin became slightly sheepish.
"Yeah."
Smoker groaned.
"Of course you have."
Luffy leaned forward.
"Look, Tashigi-san wants to become strong enough to take famous swords away from dangerous people, right?"
"Yes."
"Then she needs to meet dangerous people."
His expression became unexpectedly serious.
"And she needs to see what the world is actually like."
Tashigi's smile faded slightly.
Luffy continued.
"You can't protect people you've never met. Vowing to reclaim famous swords from villainous people is one thing, but experiencing the effects of the evil they commit is another."
He tapped the side of his head.
"Besides, Garp says the best way to get stronger is to put yourself against people who can push you."
Smoker glanced at Tashigi.
She was clearly thinking about it.
Luffy leaned back again.
"And if you don't like it, you can always come back."
Tashigi looked at him.
"You'd really be willing to let me travel with your crew?"
"Sure."
He shrugged.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Smoker was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he looked at Tashigi.
"What do you think?"
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
She looked toward the open office door.
Beyond it was the Marine ship, the harbor, and the endless sea stretching toward the horizon.
Then she looked down at Shigure.
Her dream suddenly felt much larger than the confines of a Marine base.
"I think…"
She paused.
"I think it might be exactly what I need."
Smoker sighed.
He looked at Luffy.
"If Garp really did approve your crew…"
"He did."
"And you're willing to take responsibility for her…"
"I am."
Smoker took another long drag from his cigar.
"Then I don't see a reason to stop her."
Tashigi's eyes widened.
"Captain?"
Smoker pointed his cigar at her.
"But you're still a Marine."
"Of course."
"You report everything you see."
"Yes, sir."
"And if this idiot gets you killed…"
He pointed at Luffy.
"I'm coming after him, Garp's family or not"
Luffy's grin returned.
"Deal."
Smoker sighed.
"Why do I get the feeling I've just agreed to something I'm going to regret?"
Tashigi smiled.
"It will be interesting, atleast."
Luffy laughed.
"Shishishi!"
Smoker lit a second cigar, taking a deep drag of the two he now held. He was beginning to wonder exactly what kind of chaos Garp had unleashed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By noon, Luffy and his friends had gathered at the docks near their small ship. Strangely, though, there was an extra passenger.
Zoro, who was already running through sword stances on the deck, was visibly irritated.
The cause was obvious.
A certain massive feline was behind him, mimicking his sword swings with his claws.
Luffy was too busy laughing, so it fell to Nami to ask the obvious.
"So is the Lion coming with us?"
"The furry bastard hasn't stopped following me since I fought that unicycle guy."
"Shishishi, I think Ritchie likes your fighting style."
Luffy grinned, a spark of inspiration gleaming in his eye.
"He's a lion, so he's prideful, of course he'll follow the destined greatest swordsman."
Ritchie let out an almost smug growl as he copied another swing.
"That's why he's coming with us!"
The dock seemed to freeze.
Nami pinched her nose, "We can only fit one other person if he comes. We need an actual ship."
Ritchie face-planted mid swing, taken off guard by so quickly being claimed. Zoro spun around and glared at him.
"Focus, you clumsy cat," He snapped, "You're making my moves look bad."
Ritchie snapped back to attention, sweating slightly.
It was a strange development, but if it was Luffy's decision then Zoro had no issue with it. But if the furry bastard was going to copy him, he damn sure wasn't going to make him look bad.
The extra large lion nodded his head as he continued following along.
Ignoring the odd duo, Nami turned towards the captain of their strange little crew.
"Where are we sailing next, captain?"
"Syrup Village is close, and according to Morgan, Captain Kuro might still be around that area."
Nami nodded.
"Sounds like a good place to start."
Zoro stopped his training for a moment.
"Syrup Village?"
"Yep."
Luffy nodded enthusiastically.
"Then after that, we can head to Nami's-"
A voice called out from behind them.
"Luffy-san!"
Luffy's head snapped around.
His grin widened immediately.
"Ah! There she is!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Nami looked past him.
A familiar figure was making her way down the dock, carrying a pair of bags over her shoulders. Her formal Marine uniform had been replaced by more practical travel clothes: jeans and a blue jacket similar in style to Smoker's, worn over a floral shirt.
Though, despite the change in attire, her sword remained firmly secured at her hip.
Tashigi approached with a slightly nervous expression.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Luffy waved enthusiastically.
"Tashigi-san! You're here!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed.
"Why is she here?"
Nami's lips twitched, she could already guess exactly what was coming.
Tashigi stopped beside the ship and looked up at the deck.
"I'm ready."
Zoro slowly turned toward Luffy.
"Ready for what?"
Luffy blinked.
"Traveling."
"With us?"
"Who else?"
Zoro stared at him.
Then at Tashigi.
Then back at Luffy.
"You invited her?"
"Yep."
"When?"
"I decided yesterday!"
Zoro's eye twitched.
"You decided to recruit another person without telling me?"
Luffy tilted his head.
"You didn't mind when I invited Ritchie."
Zoro yelled, "THE LION DOESN'T LOOK LIKE-"
"Plus, Nami knew."
Zoro immediately looked toward Nami.
She shrugged.
"He mentioned it."
"WITCH."
Luffy laughed.
"Shishishi!"
Tashigi adjusted her glasses, looking increasingly uncomfortable as she stood in the middle of the exchange.
"Captain Smoker gave me permission to accompany you. I'll be traveling as a Marine representative, and I'll report anything I see back to headquarters."
Zoro frowned.
"So we're taking a Marine with us."
"Yep."
"And you didn't think this was something we should discuss?"
Luffy scratched his cheek.
"Well we technically work with the Marines… on paper at least."
Luffy's grin became downright mischievous once again as he pointed at Tashigi.
"Plus she's a swordswoman."
Zoro's expression immediately changed.
Tashigi noticed.
Luffy continued.
"And you're a swordsman."
Zoro's eye twitched again.
"That doesn't mean-"
"You can train together!"
Tashigi's cheeks immediately reddened.
Zoro's face went blank.
Nami covered her mouth, desperately trying not to laugh.
Luffy looked between them, apparently oblivious to the rapidly growing tension.
"It's perfect! You both like swords, you both want to get stronger, and you both have weird problems with famous swords!"
Tashigi adjusted her glasses nervously.
"I wouldn't say we have-"
"Zoro!"
Luffy suddenly slapped a hand against his shoulder.
Zoro stiffened.
Luffy pointed toward the bags Tashigi had set beside the dock.
"Help your girlfriend get her bags on board!"
Silence.
Complete, absolute silence.
Tashigi's face went bright red.
Zoro's face did the same for an entirely different reason.
"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
"I'M NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!"
Amid Luffy's uproarious laughter, yet another soul had joined the burgeoning crew of heroes.