Zoro's POV:
Today, I woke up in the morning with the sun in my eye. That's how I knew it was a bad day. My day has gotten progressively worse, first I lost to Sanji in an argument about morning beverages as he yelled at me for having a little sake! Then, there's the fact that Sanji beat me at something even if its trivial, like proper breakfast beverages. Then, the island we arrived at keeps moving the bar so here I am, mid afternoon maybe, standing in a hill overlooking more fields, just like the ones I've been going through for the last several hours. Did I come here before? Stupid Island. The bar is probably over the next hill...
[2 hours and 16 minutes later]
Damn this island! I slump onto a tree. I've been walking for a while now and I swear, this I've seen this very hill with this very tree multiple times. Its pissing me off. Feeling annoyed and frustrated, I get up and draw my swords and in a flash, the tree falls, satisfyingly and with my small victory over the taunting tree, I begin walking in the direction that feels right. This island can't stop me and I showed it who's boss with that tree...
[1 hour and 44 minutes later]
I refuse to let this God damned island stop me from finding a bar. I will find one and I will buy the goddamn biggest drink they have. I cross another hill, knowing somewhere deep and buried far that I am lost and this is in vain but I continue onward, ignoring this little voice though it gets louder as I go farther. At some point, I can see the coast and just about to give in to that voice when I see something. No, Someone. I pause and squint to see, there, by the cliff side is a woman with dark hair and two black katana's with white edges that add a cool, contrast aesthetic.
"Oyy," I call out. The woman pauses her training and looks my way. I walk closer so I can see her better. She's pretty, long dark flowing hair and beautiful dark eyes. Her swords look more impressive up close, "Nice swords." I say and she nods, still assessing me with suspicion. Makes sense I suppose, I am a few ways away from any civilization so its perfectly fair.
"Thanks.." she says carefully and she watches me closely. I feel something in my stomach, though I cant name it. Probably excitement.
"You have good technique." I observe, remembering what I saw. "Good form. You practice here often?" she shifts, becoming more comfortable. "Thanks, I don't really practice here, just figured I wouldn't be interrupted this far out..." she says and I snort "well I'm here, so you wanna go?" I ask, challenging her and she raises an eyebrow. "Alright I suppose, dont go crying when you lose. You definitely need help going back so." She says smirking, challenging back and I can feel the excitement and adrenaline of a challenge as I draw two swords. "You saying Im lost?" I ask scowling at her despite the excitement as she draws hers. "absolutely. At least moss faces north unlike you mosshead." she says and I can feel my rage as my face heats up "Mosshead? Really? Your really pushing my patience." I growl, annoyed. "Good." she responds and the fight begins with her blades clashing with mine, testing, non-committal, seeing my skill level.
I meet her testing strike full on, attacking and I go for a slash with Sandel Kitetsu but she sidesteps it and deflects Enma. "She's good" I think to myself as I quickly sidestep as well to stay parallel with her. I attack again and she pushes my swords away with hers and creates a opening that I quickly cover with my sword, blocking her attack and regaining control of my other sword and she goes on the offensive, going for a diagonal slash with both sword, using the upward one to push my swords out of the way so I step back and draw my third one quickly as she strikes, blocking it with Wado Ichimonji and she smirks. "Now we're talking." she says and leaps back, assessing my style. I refuse to let her have enough time and go in quickly, attacking with all three.
We clash several more times, she circles me, not giving up any more ground than she has already and keeping me on a balance between offensive and defensive and she breaks the rhythm several times for quick attacks that catch me off guard but nothing I cant defend and then I counter attack and she dodges and repeats.
After a while, she begins really getting to close to hitting several times. Shes figuring my style out. I need to finish this or I might lose. I begin using named moves and she goes on the defensive, reassessing me and then, as I go in for a Dragon Twister, she sidesteps in the same direction and avoids it and goes in and focuses on attacking my left with Sandel Kitetsu and I keep circling, not letting her. I attack again with Tiger Hunt and she dodges to the left then goes in, going around Enma on my right and targeting Wado Ichimonji and knocks it out of my mouth swiftly. I pause surprised by her disarmament and it gives her all the time she needs to slip through my defense and attack. Her blade hovers next to my skin and she lowers it.
"Good job" I say, genuinely surprised that I was beat. "you're good." I say as I put my swords away and collect Wado. "Not many people can disarm me, then much less then best me" I say and she looks away "thanks. Your good too. I've never fought anyone who uses Santoryu before." she says and I nod. "I developed it myself." I explain and she looks at me with a new level of respect. My stomach does something again at her look, maybe I'm hungry. "So... where were you headed since you definitely weren't lost?" she asks playfully and smirking slightly. I scowl, "the bar. And I wasn't lost, the island keeps moving." I say trying to hide the defensiveness but her smirk widens, clearly disbelieving and chuckles, low and amused. "right, the island moves." she says flatly. "C'mon, I'll help you." she says, my scowl deepening "I dont need your help." I say flatly and firmly but she smirks "of course not. I'm Reiko by the way." she says leading him as they begin walking. "Zoro. Ronoa Zoro." I say and she glances at me surprised and my stupid stomach does something. We better reach the bar soon. "What's a big shot pirate like you doing here?" she asks and I ignore my stomach and being called a "big shot pirate", "My crew is here. Resupply trip I think" I explain and she nods, "that's nice, bit far from the shops I do say though.." she says teasingly and I scowl at her and she gives me an innocent look that deepens my scowl and my stomach is doing things again. Stupid Sanji must've poisoned my breakfast or something.
We talk a little about trivial things on the walk back to civilization and once we reach the town, her smirk is absolutely smug and I'm running out of excuses for being lost and needing help and for what the thing my stomach is doing is, which I still cant and will not try to figure out.
At the bar, we settle at the counter, she orders some wine and I get a massive mug of beer, which I gulp down quickly and she laughs at the sight. I scowl at her, "What?" I ask slightly defensive. "nothing, someone was just thirsty that's all." she says smirking and I don't bother to deny it.
I'm definitely gonna need a lot more alcohol for this.