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When it comes to swordsmanship, the world turns into a blur.
The heavy pants of her breath fills in and her sweats stain the dirt. She's in silence, in one with the sword in her hands. The grip tightens-
"Hyah!"
The swing cuts the cold air. The boots stomp even more, heavier, faster. Tashigi bares her teeth that surely guarantees an aching pain later.
Since when does this, feel so meaningless?
Tashigi spins and blows diagonal cuts onto the dummies. The two of them fall with soft thuds. Yet the grips turn whiter.
This seems strong. She is strong. Yet she is also weak and evils are doing the same move to wreck this world of its peace.
Sometimes, it bothers her. In all fairness, comes the natural law of the fittest. Everyone has a chance and not at the same time.
"Tashigi-kyun! Smoyan called!"
The glasses almost fell off her frame when she snapped her head back. Her lungs, fingers, mind, almost numb.
"Right away," Tashigi replies.
She puts the gnawing voices away.
The boat sways under her feet and she lifts her glasses. The weather, still feverish with the numbness of the cold. The crew gathers, laughing, teasing Tashigi to no end.
Tashigi fixes a firm glare at them. "Do not fool around. We must reach the HQ at full speed. Avoid unnecessary collisions."
She had embarrassed herself in front of Smoker earlier. She probably wasn't but Tashigi is just as stubborn.
"They're holding important meetings that need to be attended in person or whatever," Smoker briefed, very deliberate in its delivery. "You go there and find out."
The girl is baffled, to say the least. "Just me in your stead, Smoker-san?"
Noticing her defensive gesture, Smoker doesn't say anything. "Bring those in the first squad with you. Be back in two days."
It's an order.
"If it's important enough to be a face-to-face meeting, you should also go," Tashigi insists. "As you said, it shouldn't take long."
Not even her mind is fast enough to comprehend what she had just said. It should be a simple 'Yes'.
The smoke is getting thicker. "Are you implying you don't want to go alone?"
Now that he said it, it does sound crazy to her. This is not the first time Smoker has sent her away. She just needs to attend and listen to whatever meeting it would be.
She thought she had put this anxiousness away. Tashigi is sure she would mess up if not supervised.
"Are you dumb?"
Tashigi almost flinches. Those stares she knows very well. At this point, Smoker could probably list off all the stupid things in her head.
She resigned. "Yes."
"You'll be fine," Smoker adds, "go and come back safely. Don't let them brainwash you."
Tashigi isn't sure what he means by them. Is it HQ and their propaganda? Or storm dwelling within her?
"Understood, Smoker-san."
Tashigi steps around the deck, restless. The wind howls and crew throw glances at each other.
"Tashigi-chan? How about tea and cookies?" One of them offered. The other nods and encourages. "You haven't had any breakfast."
But she knows their tea tastes like melting ice water. The idea to stomach any food at the moment is also a no.
"Don't you think it's-"
"Tashigi!! Black clouds ahead!" The yells from the top of the mast surprises them.
She takes the binocular hastily and gives it back to the crew.
"All hands-!" Tashigi yells back and the crew immediately scatters.
It's no ordinary black clouds. A nasty rainstorm is coming for their ship.
The world around her quickly turns into a blur.
The rain hammers from above while waves swallow from below. The sight ahead doesn't seem promising. Too late to turn around. Too late to do anything but deal with it head on.
The wind is deafening her ears.
Salty and cold water for breakfast.
Tashigi wonders as her fingers go numb.
If she's stronger, would it be more fair?
The water gets into her eyes and falls saltier.
The gruelling sails come to an end hours later. The sea turns dead silent without ripples.
The crew sprawls around the floor. Exhaustion and soreness are undeniable. Tashigi's still standing, barely, but she makes it to keep on her feet. Her eyes, her eyes gazes ahead beyond her blurry glasses.
"Is everyone here?" Tashigi manages to ask without wheezing. She turns around to see the mess. Her hair band long snapped and left her hair loose.
She met with smiles and cheerfulness.
"We're good!"
"Tashigi-chan, are you okay?"
Tashigi smiles back as her name fills the air.
"We could take a break," she says, taking off her glasses.
The crew cheers and the sun shines.
The meeting was boring, to Smoker's standard probably. The man definitely smelled it right away and decided to send her to suffer it instead. Especially when it took hours and unnecessarily long.
It was okay though, she noted all the important things and caught up with her friends while she was there.
It does take her mind off the stupid things.
She boards the ship with a lighter mood. She also made sure she wasn't brainwashed. Checked. Preparing to leave tomorrow after fixing their ropes? Checked.
"Tashigi-kyun, look at what we stole!" His head is smacked by his friend.
"Not that, small head! We got them from the canteen for free!"
"Isn't that just stealing?"
"Stealing food from HQ as Marines?"
"That does sound hilarious."
Tashigi steps closer in confusion. She opens the box they're holding and revealing oranges. A few boxes of it that she's even more dumbfounded.
"Oranges..?" Tashigi speaks as if she's convincing herself.
"So we can share!"
The situation is moving so fast and she's just dragged around by their intensity. Now they're having dinner on deck under the stars. Finished by sharing oranges. Though she peels most of them.
"Why are we eating oranges..." Tashigi mutters and puts one in her mouth. Then she gives it away and opens one more then eats one.
Just like that it keeps rolling. It keeps moving.
She stares at the peeled orange on her hands.
The world won't rest just because she finds it unjustly.
The crew stole the oranges, she peels, and they eat. She doesn't have to worry herself with something she can't control. Just like she can't prevent the crew from stealing, she can't prevent all disaster in the world.
Tashigi smiles at them. "I'll request more food for us tomorrow morning before we leave."
When it comes to this, the world seems hopeful.