Chapter 46: In The Pouring Rain
The storm raged on, drenching the streets of Logue Town in sheets of rain. Thunder echoed overhead, and the relentless winds whipped at every loose piece of fabric or sign in the port town. Zoro stood opposite Tashigi, their eyes locked in a tense standoff. But before the real fight began, Zoro had an idea—a smirk creeping onto his face. His gaze flickered downward, spotting a small, harmless fish floundering in a shallow puddle nearby.
"Hey, Tashigi!" Zoro shouted over the roaring wind.
"What?" Tashigi snapped, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword as she prepared to strike.
Zoro bent down and picked up the fish, holding it out toward her. "You're a Marine, right? Help me save this poor fish."
Tashigi blinked, her sword arm faltering just for a second as her eyes widened in confusion. "What are you talking about?!"
Zoro flicked the fish toward her, grinning as it flopped in her direction, momentarily distracting her. "It's drowning! Shouldn't you be doing something about that?"
In her moment of distraction, Zoro sprinted off, leaving Tashigi sputtering in frustration behind him. She wiped the rain from her eyes and gave chase, but Zoro was already vanishing into the chaos of battle, catching up with Sanji and Usopp. They were still running with the giant wagon full of supplies, its wheels squealing against the wet cobblestones as they raced toward the port.
Sanji glanced over his shoulder, his cigarette barely lit in the pouring rain. "Took you long enough, moss-head."
"Shut up, love cook," Zoro shot back, sliding into formation beside them. "We've got Marines closing in fast."
Usopp was panting, his long legs struggling to keep pace with the others as he gripped the reins of the wagon. "I swear, why do these things always happen to us?"
Zoro turned his head, and sure enough, a squad of Marines was bearing down on them from the alleyways. Armed with rifles, swords, and spears, they rushed forward, intent on cutting off their path to escape. At the same time, pirates from Buggy's crew emerged from another side street, cackling as they joined the fray, hoping to corner the Straw Hats.
"Zoro! They're closing in!" Usopp yelped.
"Just keep moving," Zoro growled, unsheathing his two new swords, his hands gripping the hilts with deadly precision.
A dozen Marines converged on them, and Zoro leapt into action, his blades slicing through the air with lightning speed. He cut down two soldiers in a single fluid motion, his new swords humming as they danced through the rain. But more kept coming. It seemed endless—the Marines' desperate attempts to capture the notorious Straw Hats knowing the reward on their heads was worth risking their lives.
Sanji kicked away a pirate who lunged at the wagon, spinning in mid-air as he delivered a bone-crunching blow. "Don't slow down!" he shouted, his leg cutting through the downpour like a blade.
Zoro spun, his swords deflecting the barrage of attacks from the approaching Marines. A spear grazed his side, but he pressed on, parrying another strike before bringing his blade down on the assailant. The onslaught was fierce, and though Zoro's skill was unmatched, the sheer number of enemies began to overwhelm him. For a brief moment, a Marine managed to break through Zoro's defense, swinging his sword toward the swordsman's back.
A loud bang echoed as Usopp, from atop the wagon, fired his slingshot, knocking the Marine's blade off course. "I've got your back, Zoro!" Usopp shouted, though his voice trembled with fear.
Zoro grunted in appreciation, his swords moving in a blur as he cut through more enemies. The group was pushing their way through the narrow streets toward the open port, the Going Merry visible in the distance.
As they neared the docks, the rain intensified, sheets of water pouring down, making the ground slippery. Just as the Straw Hats thought they might have an open path to escape, Tashigi emerged once again, her sword drawn, her face set with determination. She moved like a ghost through the rain, appearing in front of Zoro with her sword raised.
"This is where it ends, Roronoa Zoro!" Tashigi shouted, her voice cutting through the downpour as she blocked their way.
Sanji and Usopp exchanged a quick glance. "We'll handle the wagon. You take care of this, Zoro," Sanji said, already guiding the wagon past her.
Zoro met her gaze, his swords still in hand. "You really want to do this, huh?"
"I'm a Marine. It's my duty," Tashigi replied, her voice steady but her grip on her sword tense. She charged forward without hesitation, swinging her blade with precision. Zoro raised his swords to meet hers, the clash of steel ringing out despite the storm.
Their swords danced In the rain, each blow matched with fierce intensity. Zoro was calm and composed, his movements calculated and smooth, while Tashigi fought with passion and determination. She was skilled, no doubt about it, but Zoro's experience gave him the upper hand. He could feel the difference between them in every strike, though he wasn't entirely without respect for her abilities.
As their swords clashed, Zoro briefly glanced around and saw a mother and daughter struggling in the chaos of battle—caught in the middle of a collapsing awning, its frame weakened by the storm and the fighting around them. Zoro's instincts kicked in, and he broke away from the fight for a split second, dashing toward the civilians. With a powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through the debris before it could collapse on them, lifting the frame away and helping them to safety.
Tashigi, watching this unfold, felt something stir in her chest. She had always thought of pirates as selfish and violent, and yet here Zoro was, saving civilians in the midst of a battle. Her grip on her sword faltered for a moment as conflicting emotions washed over her.
"What… What are you?" she whispered to herself, eyes wide with confusion.
Zoro returned to the fight, panting slightly from the effort but still focused. "They were in the way," he muttered, wiping the rain from his eyes. "Can we get back to this now?"
Tashigi shook her head, regaining her focus. "You're still a pirate. I won't let your actions cloud that."
They clashed again, Tashigi pouring her heart into every strike, but Zoro was unrelenting. His swords, tempered by battle and honed by his training, were too much for her. Every time she attacked, Zoro blocked or countered with precision, and his strikes carried the weight of his resolve.
As their duel raged on, the storm reached its peak, the wind howling and rain pouring in torrents. Zoro, though maintaining control, could see Tashigi's growing frustration. She was giving it her all, but Zoro's superior skill was apparent. In a final, decisive moment, Zoro knocked her sword from her hand, his blades at her throat. He paused, breathing heavily but victorious.
Tashigi fell to her knees, the rain mingling with her tears of frustration. "Why… why won't you finish me off? Is it because I'm a woman?"
Zoro stood over her, silent for a moment, the rain pouring down his face. "No," he said softly, sheathing his swords. "It's because you look like someone I once knew… someone I cared about."
Tashigi's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. The storm seemed to quiet around them, the rain still falling but softer now, almost as if the world was holding its breath.
Zoro turned, the weight of his confession hanging between them, and began walking away. "You're strong, Tashigi. But I don't kill for no reason."
As Zoro disappeared into the rain, Tashigi sat in stunned silence, her emotions swirling in the storm's aftermath.
Meanwhile, Goku stood facing Buggy and Alvida, the storm still swirling with fury. Buggy grinned, spinning his daggers in the air with a flick of his hands, while Alvida hefted her massive iron club with a smirk.
"So, Straw Hat Goku," Buggy sneered, "ready for a real fight?"
Goku glared at them, his fists tightening, his Saiyan blood boiling with anticipation. The storm, the chaos, and the battle all around them had only fueled his desire to fight. He could feel the energy building inside him, and he was ready to unleash it.
"You talk too much," Goku said, his voice low and dangerous. His eyes glowed with determination as he prepared to launch himself into battle.
The real fight was just beginning.
[A/N: A shoutout to my mates patreon Dolf_91. Thank you for your support bro. You can also read 10 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]